SPOONBILLS, IBISES, STORKS 



177 



species of Herons. The youiiE; birds before they 

 assume the adult plumage are called " Stone Cur- 

 lews " by the fishermen, and the old birds, which 

 are popularly supposed to be of a dilTerent species, 

 are usuallv referred to as " Spanish Curlews " 



or " White Curlews." The White Ibis is in no 

 sense a Curlew, but its Ions,', rounded, curved bill 

 has doubtless suggested this name to many inter- 

 ested but unscientific observers. 



T. Gilbert Pearson. 



GLOSSY IBIS 



Plegadis autumnalis {Liiincrns) 



A. O. U. Xumber 186 



Other Names. — Bay Ibis; Green Ibis; Ord's Ibis; 

 Liver ; Black Curlew. 



Description. — Length. 24 inches. Adults : Rich 

 f'lirf^tish-chcstnut shading on head. back, wings and tail, 

 to glossy purplish-green ; sides and under tail-coverts 

 dusky-green; primaries, greenish-black; bare skin 

 around eye slaty-blue; no ichitc fcatlwrs on j\icc: bill, 

 dusky; legs, dark grayish; iris, brown. Young: Head 

 and neck, grayish-brown streaked with whitish ; upper 

 parts, dull dusky-green ; below, grayish-brown. 



Nest and Eggs. — Nest : In marshy ground or low 

 bushes ; constructed of dead reeds, plant stems, etc. ; 

 ratlier well built and well cupped. E(;r;s : 3. deep dull 

 bluish-green. 



Distribution. — Tropical and subtropical regions, 

 mainly of eastern hemisphere; rare and local in south- 

 eastern United States from Louisiana to Florida, and 

 in the West Indies; casual north to Missouri, Wiscon- 

 sin, Michigan, Ontario, and Nova .Scotia. 



WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS 

 Plegadis guarauna {Liniucu.s) 



A. O U. Xumlicr i.S; 



General Description.— Length, 24 inches. Predoini- 

 nating color, rich purple. 



Color. — Adults: Head. neck, ancl entire under parts, 

 rich purplish-chestnut tinged with iridescent violet on 

 head and nape ; back and wing, iridescent violet-green 

 and purple ; shoulders, rich wine-red, less lustrous than 

 wing; primaries, green with brassy luster; rump, upper 

 tail-coverts, and tail, green with purplish reflections ; 

 lower tail-coverts, similar, contrasting with chestnut 

 abdomen; hare area on head, lake red: a margin 

 of white feathers surroundinn bare s!'aee on head, 

 including chin ; bill, dusky, reddening on tip ; legs and 



^^v 









GLOSSY IBIS 



Two adult birds, one nest, and four young. Bird Island, Orange 

 Lake, Florida 



feet, dull reddish; iris, red. Young: Plumage, entirely 

 green ; bill, dusky, blotched or banded with pinkish- 

 white ; legs, black; this coloration changing through 

 brownish or grayish to the mature iridescent plumage. 



Nest and Eggs. — Nest : On reed beds ; constructed 

 of dead reeds attached to upright stalks of living ones ; 

 very well and compactly built with a well-shaped cup. 

 Eggs : 3 or 4. deep bluish-green. 



Distribution, — Temperate and trojiical .America from 

 southern Oregon, Arizona, Te.xas, and Florida south 

 through Mexico to southern South America ; casual 

 north to British Columbia, Wvoming, and Nebraska. 



The Glossy Ibis and the White-faced Glossy 

 Ibis are identical in appearance, except that the 

 former does not possess the small patch of white 

 feathers in the region about the base of the bill. 



Both birds are inhabitants of tropical and sub- 

 tropical America. They are extremely rare in 

 eastern United States and appear to be confined 

 largely to Florida. The only place they have 



