64 BULLETIN 135, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



then they disappear and do not return. When feeding or when 

 perched on a tree resting and dozing there is always a sentinel on the 

 watch; even when roosting at night they are difficult to approach; 

 the crackling of a twig, the rustling of underbrush, the slighest sound 

 or the glimpse of a man, which their keen ears or eyes can detect, 

 will put them on the alert; it is then useless to attempt a closer 

 approach; they are off and will not return. 



The only note I have ever heard from an adult wood ibis is a hoarse 

 croak, usually uttered when disturbed or frightened. It is generally 

 a silent species. Young birds are very noisy, however. 



Enemies. — The wood ibis has not suffered much from the hand of 

 man; it is so wary that it is not easily approached and is generally 

 well able to take care of itself; its plumage has never been much 

 in demand, for it is not an attractive bird at close quarters; and it 

 has never been considered a game bird, as its flesh is tough and un- 

 palatable. It has few natural enemies and so it is likely to survive 

 for a long time in its native wilderness. 



Willard Elliot (1892) writes.: 



A great pest of all rookery birds is the crow, and if an ibis leaves the nest for 

 an instant down comes the black dare-devil with a scream of delight and grabs 

 an egg by sticking his bill into it and flying away. The ibis seems to be very 

 much afraid of them and I have seen a crow almost take an egg out from under 

 one of them and they would croak and draw back their bills as if to strike, but 

 never did. 



Audubon (1840) says: 



One of the most curious circumstances connected with this species is, that al- 

 though the birds are, when feeding, almost constantly within the reach of large 

 alligators, of which they devour the young, these reptiles never attack them; 

 whereas, if a duck or a heron comes within the reach of their tails, it is immediately 

 killed and swallowed. The wood ibis will wade up to its belly in the water, around 

 the edges of "alligators' holes," without ever being injured; but should one of 

 these birds be shot, an alligator immediately makes toward it and pulls it under 

 water. The garfish is not so courteous, but gives chase to the ilMses whenever 

 an opportunity occurs. The snapping-turtle is also a great enemj- to the young 

 birds of this species. 



Dr. Henry Bryant (1861), on a visit to a rookery in Florida, found 

 the alligators very aggressive; he writes: 



The moment the boat which I had liad hauled there was launched, the alliga- 

 tors assembled for the purpose of examining the new visitor; and before we had 

 arrived at the breeding place there were more than .50 following the boat, the 

 nearest almost within reach of the oars. On shooting a bird, the instant it 

 touched the water it was seized bj' an alligator; and I was obliged to kill half a 

 dozen of these creatures before I could secure a specimen, and even after this I 

 was generally obliged to fire one barrel at the bird and the other at the nearest 

 alligator. 



