IBISIN^. 771 



lower back, rump, wincj-coverts, quills and tall dark green, with 

 bronze and purplish reflections. 



Bill dull pale (jreenish ; irides brown ; lores and nude orbits 

 pale green ; legs blackish green, with a lilue garter above the knee. 

 Length 22 inches, extent 38 ; wing lOf ; tall ; bill at front 6 ; 

 tarsus 4^. 



The young birds of the year are ashy-brown, with white mark- 

 ings on the head and neck. After the moult they are brown on 

 the head and neck, the feathers whitish edged ; the back greenish- 

 brown ; wings and tail as in the adult, but less glossed ; the lower 

 neck, belly, breast, and thigh-coverts, dusky black, with more or 

 less greenish reflections on the breast ; lores whitish. 



The Glossy Ibis is found in vast numbers in India durlnnr 

 the cold weather, frequenting the edges of large tanks, j heels, 

 and rivers, also swamps and inundated paddy-fields, and feeding 

 on molluscs, Crustacea, insects, and worms. Adams states that it 

 feeds on carrion, beetles, scorpions, &c. ; but I think that he has 

 confounded this bird with the last. It flies in flocks, rapidly and 

 with great regularity, and generally in the form of a wedge, and 

 roosts at night in beds of large reeds. This Ibis is said to breed 

 among I'eeds. It is most excellent eating, and has a tolerably 

 loud call, often uttered in flight and when alarmed. 



The Glossy Ibis appears to be spread over the whole world, being 

 found throughout Asia, Australia, Africa, the South of Europe, 

 and great part of Ameiica. Bonaparte, however, separates /. 

 peregriiia, M tiller from Java, and Ihis mexicana, Vieill., as distinct 

 species. It was considered sacred in Euypt, like the White Jbis, 

 probably on account of its appearing after the inundation, and 

 mummies of it are frequentl}^ found. 



Other species of Falcinellus recorded are F. guarauna, L., and 

 F. erythrurhyncha, Gould, both from America. A small section 

 of American Ibises belonging to the present minor group is named 

 Eadocimus by Wagler, and is restricted Ibis apud Gray, Panbis, 

 Is. GeofTroy. One of tiiese is the beautiful Scarlet Ibis, '/'unt. 

 imber, L., and there are two white species, 2\ alius, L., and Ibis 

 longirostris, Wagler. 



