IBIBIDJE: IBISES. 649 



252. PLE'GADIS. {(}y. TtKrjyds, plegas, & scythe, sickle.) Glosst Ibises. Bill twice as long 

 as lii'ad, or more, regularly decurved ; both maudihles grooved on sides for their whole length; 

 culnien proniiuent from uear base for most of its length, iiattened and grooved on terminal tvvo- 

 tifths; symphysis of lower mandible grooved to tip. Thus each mandible, toward the end of 

 the bill, has 3 grtioves, one median and two lateral ; 6 in all. Nostrils linear, in advance of 

 base of upper mandible, in its latei'al grooves. Frontal feathers sweeping with strongly convex 

 outline across forehead, uear but not quite at base of bill ; lores broadly naked, the bare space 

 embracing eyes ; a pointed projection of feathers on side of lower mandible ; another median 

 one advancing farther and more acutely on bare space of chin, which is thus forked behind. 

 Tibiae bare for a lUstance equal to half or more of the length of tarsus ; mostly reticulate, but 

 with smooth bare skin for a space above in front. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw, 

 reticulate, scutellate in front. Lateral toes unequal, the inner shortest. Hind toe somewhat 

 elevated, without claw not half as long as middle toe with(jut claw. Claws all long and 

 slightly curved ; inner edge of middle one dilated and cut three or four times, but without the 

 regular " comb " of a heron's. Wings and tail ordinary, latter of 12 feathers. Colors dark 

 glossy-green and chestnut; bill and feet dark. Two or three species, one cosmopohtan, one 

 or two confined to America. Sexes alike ; young different. Eggs whole-colored. 



649. P. falcinellus. (Lat. /«7c««C!<7ms or /afcme/Zws, a little scythe.) Glossy Ibis. <J$, adult: 

 No white feathers around face. General color rich dark purplish-chestnut, opaque, changing 

 on head, back, wings (excepting lesser coverts), and tail, to glossy dark purplish-green ; sides 

 and lining of wings and crissum dusky greenish ; primaries greenish -black. BUI blackish ; 

 legs grayish-black ; iris brown ; bare skin of head slaty-blue. Young : Head, neck, and under 

 parts grayish-broAvn, the two former streaked with whitish ; upper parts glossy dusky-green. 

 Length about 2 feet; extent about 3 feet; wing 10.00-11.00 inches; tail 4.00; bill 4.50- 

 5.50 ; tibiae bare about 2.50 ; tarsus 3.50 ; middle toe and claw rather less. This bird is chiefly 

 Old World, not common or regular in America, found occasionally anywhere E. of the Missis- 

 sippi, especially coastwise and southerly ; N. casually to New^ England. The next species is 

 much more abundant in its proper range. Eggs with shell rougher and heavier than that of 

 heron's eggs, ovoidal, not elliptical, greenish -blue, 1.90 to 2.10 long, by about 1.48 broad. 



650. P. guarau'na. (Vox barb., S. Am.) White-faced Glossy Ibis. Adult $ : A white 

 margin of feathers entirely suiTounding the bare space on head. Head otherwise, neckj and 

 entire under parts of the body, including the tibia?, rich purplish-chestnut, quite uniform oil 

 tlie under parts, obscured Avith dusky on the head and nape, there iridescent with violet. Back 

 and wings intensely iridescent with various metallic tints ; back, wing-coverts, and inner quUls 

 shining with violet, green, and puiple ; scapulars more like under parts, being of a rich deep 

 wine-red and less lustrous than the wing-coverts. Primaries green, with brassy or almost 

 golden lustre. Rump, upper tail-coverts and tail chiefly green, but with various violet and pui-jjle 

 reflections ; lower tail-coverts similar, contrasting with the chestnut of the belly. Lining of 

 wings brassy-green, like the primaries; axillars violet, like the upper wing-coverts. Bare 

 facial area apparently reddish. Bill blackish, reddening toward end ; legs and feet dusky- 

 reddish ; claws blackish; iris red. Length 22.00-24.00; extent 38.00-40.00; wing 10.00- 

 11.00 ; tail 3.75-4.25 ; bill 5.00-5.50 ; tibiae bare 2.50 ; tarsus 3.75 ; middle toe and claw 3.25 ; 

 inner do., 2.50; outer do., 2.90; hind do., 1.60. 9 similar, averaging smaller; lengtli 21.50; 

 extent 36.00, etc. In this beautiful species, the feathers sweep down on the forehead with 

 regular convexity, nearly but not quite to the base of the culmen, thence retreating around 

 back of the eye, which is wholly in bare skin, then running forward to a point on the side of 

 the lower mandible ; retreating again, then running forward in a point on the middle line of 

 the chin, further than on jaw or forehead ; there being thus enclosed, on each side of the 

 head, a broad naked space, widest forward, narrowing behind to embrace the eye ; and between 

 the rami of the jaw another bare space, forked behind to receive the projecting feathers of the 



