I02 THE EIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



With US it is a not uncommon visitor on passage in autumn, but 

 less frequent in spring. The southern and eastern coasts are 

 visited more regularly than other parts, but it has been met 

 with in Scotland and Ireland on many occasions. It is still 

 unexplained why a bird travelling, presumably, from southern 

 Europe to still more southern winter quarters, should in 

 autumn frequently pass through Britain ; it has also wandered 

 to Iceland and Scandinavia. Either many Ibises and other 

 birds are unable to orientate, or they are wind-borne far from 

 the route they desire to follow. 



There is another possible explanation, suggested to me 

 by the disgustingly long list of birds shot in Britain. In 

 certain years so many were killed that we should call them 

 Ibis years, and often the birds were noted in small flocks. 

 The majority obtained were immature. Thus, when in the 

 autumn of 1907 twenty visited Orkney, all the ten that were 

 shot were young birds. Are not these autumnal wanderings of 

 young birds in the nature of *' irruptions," and an effort to 

 extend the range ? This seems more reasonable than the 

 theory that they are visiting a long-deserted breeding area. 

 That marshmen and fowlers used to call and still call it the 

 " Black Curlew " need not imply that the Ibis was ever really 

 common ; occasional irruptions or invasions would be reason 

 enough for keen fowlers to create a name. 



The curved bill and general shape of the Glossy Ibis certainly 

 suggest a dark-coloured Curlew or Whimbrel. The legs are 

 trailed and the neck outstretched ; the wings move rapidly, 

 with intervals when it glides ; the quick beats cause a whizzing 

 sound. The bird is at all times sociable ; flocks move in 

 bunches, lines, and chevrons. On the ground it walks like a 

 Heron, and it frequently perches in trees. Lilford kept a 

 number in captivity ; from these Plate 39 was drawn. The 

 birds frequently basked in the sun, elevating one wing. Mr. 

 Thorburn noticed that the long axillaries showed below the 



