392 GLOSSY IBIS. 



sidered irregular. Southwards it becomes common, and in Spain 

 it nests freely in the marshes of Andalucia. Its most northern 

 colonies appear to commence in Slavonia, and are to be found along 

 the valley of the Danube, extending thence throughout the Black Sea 

 district to the Caspian. In Asia it ranges to 48° N. lat., and breeds 

 as far south as Ceylon ; while in winter it passes down the Eastern 

 Archipelago to South Australia. It nests in suitable localities in 

 North Africa, and on the east side of that continent its migrations 

 extend to Natal. Our Glossy Ibis appears to be found in the 

 Eastern United States, but the representative species in Neo-tropical 

 America is P. guarauna, which has a white margin of feathers 

 surrounding the bare space on the forehead. 



Mr. W. Eagle Clarke found the Glossy Ibis breeding by thousands 

 in the great bird-colony on the Obedska ' bara ' in Slavonia ; its 

 nests, constructed of sticks and a few reeds, being placed among the 

 lower branches of sallow-bushes (tamarisks in Spain), either on 

 the surface of the water or very little above it. The eggs, 3-4 in 

 number, are oval, and are of a dark greenish-blue, slightly 

 pitted : measurements 2 in. by i "5 in. In India and Ceylon the 

 nests are built in trees, and Col. Legge describes the young as 

 climbing actively among the branches, and clinging so firmly with 

 their feet as to be removed with difficulty. The food consists of 

 small amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, &c., obtained on the muddy 

 banks of rivers and estuaries ; also of locusts, scorpions and beetles. 

 In flight the pinions are first moved rapidly, and produce a whizzing 

 sound, after which the bird skims for some distance. 



The adult has the head, neck and under parts deep reddish- 

 brown ; back, wings and tail brownish-black, glossed with metallic- 

 green and purple ; bill dark brown ; bare skin round the eyes 

 greenish-grey ; irides hazel ; legs and feet bronze-brown. Length 

 about 22 in. ; wing 1075 in. The sexes are alike in plumage, but 

 the female is slightly smaller. The young bird has no glossy tints ; 

 and the head, cheeks and neck are streaked and patched with 

 greyish-white. 



The family of the Ibises, of which Pkgadis forms a somewhat 

 outlying genus, has no affinity to the Curlews, with which, owing to 

 a superficial resemblance in the shape of the bill, it was formerh' 

 associated; its relationship is with the Storks i^Ciconiidcc)^ ano, 

 more closely, with the Spoonbills {Plataleidie). The egg of the 

 Sacred Ibis is similar to that of the Spoonbill, and so are, probably, 

 the eggs of the other typical species. 



