IBISlNiE. 767 



Black Ibises, &c, Layard, who also found it breeding in Ceylon, 

 states that it defends its nest most pertinaciously. The flight of 

 this bird is strong and tolerably rapid, and it gives good sport 

 with a Bhyri. 



Mr. J. Shillino;ford informs me that it is sometimes caught 

 in the Purneah district by a bamboo, with a noose attached, being 

 bent down and fixed lightly to the ground by a small peg, to 

 which an Ampullaria is affixed. The Shell-eater hunting about 

 finds the shell, and moving it to get at its contents, the peg is 

 withdrawn, the bamboo flies up, and the noose catches the bird, 

 which remains dano-linsj in mid air. 



The only other species of Anastomus known is A. lamelligeriis, 

 Temminck, from Africa, the type of Hiato?', Reichenbach, which, 

 however, only differs apparently in the character of the plumage, 

 the feathers of the neck and lower parts ending in a horny lamella. 



Sub-fam. iBisiNiE. 



Bill long, thin, curved. 



The Ibises difier from the previous members of this family by 

 their long, slender, curved, and channeled beaks, and are always 

 called Curlews in India : indeed, Cuvier himself did not separate 

 them from the Curlews. Nevertheless, they do differ considerably 

 from those Longirostral birds, breeding on trees, and feeding their 

 young till full grown. The three species found in India form 

 the types of as many genera. 



Gen. Threskiornis, Gray. 



Syn. Ibis, apud Bonaparte. 



Char. — Bill very long, moderately stout, thickened at the base, 

 somewhat square, arched more or less througliout ; the upper 

 mandible with a long lateral groove produced to the tip ; nostrils 

 basal, narrow ; wings long, the 2nd quill longest, or the 3rd and 

 4th sub-equal to it ; tall short, even, of twelve feathers ; tarsus 

 moderate ; toes long, hallux resting on the ground. Head and 

 neck of the adult devoid of feathers; scapulars and tertials 

 decomposed, lengthened ; feathers of the breast elongated ; plumage 

 white. 



