THE GLOSSY IBIS. 481 



tion — a sort of morning constitutional, necessary to well-fed burghers who 

 •would avoid gout. Whatever may induce the Storks to play the Buzzard 

 for a time each day, they certainly present a pleasing and impressive spec- 

 tacle, as, with plumage striking by reason of its contrasting black and white, 

 they wheel aloft in majestic circles, whose dizzy and distant mazes test the 

 eye-sight. 



The Wood Stork is supposed to have been more frequent northerly in 

 the early days; but there is only one recent record, that of Mr. H. E. Chubb, 

 of Cleveland, who took one in 1879. In view of its greatly diminishing 

 numbers it is scarcely likely that it will ever appear so far north again. 



No. 217. 



GLOSSY IBIS. 



A. O. U. No. 186. Plegadis autumnalis (Hasselq.). 



Description. — Adult : Head, neck, upper back, lesser wing-coverts, and en- 

 tire under parts, except under tail-coverts, rich purplish chestnut ; remaining plum- 

 age shining, metallic green, bronze, violet, violet-green, purple, etc. ; "lores green- 

 ish in life, blackish in dried skins; feathers surrounding the base of the bill black- 

 ish" (Ridgw.) ; bill black; feet and legs grayish black in life, drying dark brown. 

 Immature: Head and neck dark grayish brown, minutely streaked with white; 

 under parts dull grayish brown, acquiring purplish chestnut in increasing inten- 

 sity ; back and wings dark greenish dusky. Length 22.00-25.00 (558.8-635.); 

 wing 11.25 (285.8) ; tail 4.25 1 108.) ; bill about 5.00 (127.) ; tarsus 3.50 (88.9) ; 

 middle toe and claw 3.50 (88.9). 



Recognition Marks. — Brant size, but appearing smaller; dark, reddish and 

 shining bronzy coloration ; long, black, decurved bill. 



Nesting. — Not known to breed in Ohio. Nest, of broken-down reeds, com- 

 pactly built and well-cupped, in swamps. Eggs, 3, deep greenish blue. Av. size, 

 2.01 x 1.47 (51.1 x 37.3). 



General Range. — Warmer parts of eastern hemisphere, West Indies, and 

 southern portion of eastern United States, wandering northward to New England 

 and Illinois. In America only locally abundant and of irregular distribution. 



Range in Ohio. — Accidental. One record. 



ONLY the most meagre accounts exist of this little known and irregu- 

 larly distributed species. It remained undiscovered in America until 181 7, 

 when Mr. Ord took a specimen on the eastern coast of New Jersey. Altho 

 st first described under a new name, it is now known to be identical with 

 the Old World species, which thus enjoys a wide and rather remarkable 



