IBIDID.E: IBISES. 865 



Analysis of Genera and Species. 



Head bare on sides and beneath. Claws scarcely curved. Colors dark, metallic, greenish and chestnut . Pleoadis 



Face without white feathers in adult (iiitumnalis 



Face surrounded by white feathers in adult guarauna 



Head extensively bare on front, sides, and beneath. Claws curved. Colors light, red or white GtiAEA 



Adults white alba 



Adults scarlet rubra 



PLE'GADIS. (Gr. TrXTjydf, ^jie(7rts, a scytlie, sickle.) Glossy Ibises. Bill twice as long 

 as head, or more, regularly decurved ; both mandibles grooved on sides for their whole length ; 

 culmen prominent from near l)ase for most of its length, flattened and grooved on terminal two- 

 fifths; symphysis of lower mandible grooved to tip. Thus each mandible, toward end of bill, 

 has 3 grooves, one median and two lateral ; 6 in all. Nostrils linear, in advance of base of 

 upper mandible, in its lateral grooves. Frontal feathers sweeping with strongly convex out- 

 line across forehead, near 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 cliin, which is thus forked behind. 

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

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

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

 vated, without claw not half as long as middle toe without 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. Sexes alike; young different. Eggs whole-colored. 

 Three species, one cosmopolitan, two confined to America. 



P. autumua'lis. (Lat. autumnal; auctiimnus or autumnus. RwXmnw, fall.) Glossy Ibis. 

 Bay Ibis. Green Ibis. Ord's Ibis. Liver. Adult $ 9 : No white feathers around 

 face. General color rich dark purplish-chestnut, opaque, changing on head, back, wings (ex- 

 cepting lesser coverts), and tail, to glossy dark purplish-green ; sides and lining of wings and 

 crissum dusky greenish ; primaries greenish-black. Bill blackish ; legs grayish-black ; iris 

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

 the two former streaked with whitish ; upper parts glossy dusky-green. Downy young black- 

 ish, witli white coronal band ; bill yellowisli and black ; feet yellowish. Length about '2 feet; 

 extent about 3 feet ; wing 10.00-11.50 ; 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 east of the Mississippi, especially coastwise and 

 southerly ; West Indies ; north casually to New England ; straggling also to Nebraska, Col- 

 orad(j, and Arizona. The next species is much more abundant in its proper range. Egg 

 rougher and heavier than that of a Heron, ovoidal, not elli])tical, greenish-blue, 1.90-2.10 X 

 about 1.48. P. falcinellus of 2d-4th eds. of Key. This falcincllus var. ordii, of 1st ed. ; Tan- 

 talus falcinellus Linn. 1760, unfortunately antedated by Tringa autumnalis Hasselq. 17()2. 

 A. O. U. No. 180. 



P. guarau'iia. (Vox barb., S. Am.) WiiiTE-FACEn Glossy Ibis. Adult ^ : A wliite 

 margin (jf feathers surrounding bare space on head. Head otiierwise, neck, and entire under 

 parts of body, including tibia', rich purplish-chestnut, quite uniform on under parts, obscured 

 with dusky on head and nape, there iridescent with violet. Back and wings intensely irides- 

 cent with various metallic tints; back, wing-coverts, and iimer quills siiining witli vi(det, 

 green, and purple; scapulars more like under parts, being of a rich deep wine-red and less 

 lustrous tlian wing-coverts. Primaries green, with brassy or almost golden lustre. Kump, 

 U|>p('r tail-coverts and tail chiefly green, but with various violet and purple reflections ; lower 

 tail-coverts similar, contrasting with chestnut of belly. Lining of wings brassy-green, like 

 primaries ; axillars violet, like upper wing-coverts. Bare facial area lake-red, drying tlingy ;. 



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