450 Note on the Breeding of the Sacred Ibis. 



in captivity, and of which examples are to be seen in most of 

 the larger zoological gardens of Europe. In the Regent's 

 Park our Sacred Ibises pass the winter in the " Western 

 Aviary'' along with individuals of the allied species, Ibis 

 bernieri, I. st?ictipenms^, and /. melanocephala, and other 

 members of the group. In the summer the flock of Ibises 

 is turned out onto what is called the "Waterfowls' Lawn/' 

 where they pass their time happily enough, stalking about 

 on the green sward, and wading into the adjoining pond. 



In 1876 two individuals of the Sacred Ibis on the lawn 

 were observed to be pairing, and, having been supplied with 

 small sticks, made a loose flat nest in a low bush, about two 

 feet from the ground, on the opposite side of the pond from 

 the walk. Two eggs were laid, but, it is believed, rolled out 

 of the nest, and came to nothing. 



In 1877 the attached pair renewed their efforts, and were 

 more successful. Two eggs were laid on a flat nest, in nearly 

 the same situation, about the middle of June. One of them 

 was hatched on July 6th, after about twenty-one days' incu- 

 bation ; the other was addled. The young bird grew quickly, 

 and in less than a month was of nearly the same size as its 

 parents. As will be seen by Mr. Smit's sketch (PI. XII.), 

 it was immediately distinguishable from them by the nearly 

 straight and shorter bill, by the head and neck being 

 covered by short black feathers, and the absence of all the 

 ornamental plumes. This bird is still living in the Gardens 

 (August 1878), and has nearly attained the plumage of ma- 

 turity, although there still remain some short black feathers 

 on the head and neck. 



In 1878 a pair of Sacred Ibises (it is believed the same 

 pair) have renewed their attempts to breed. One egg was 

 dropped before the birds were turned out on the grass-plot, 

 about April 22nd. One other was laid in the nest, after it 



* As abeady noted (ftis, 1878, p. 112), it is not difficult for the most 

 unlearned observer to distinguish this eastern representative of the Sacred 

 Ibis, when alive, from its allied form, although Mr. Elliot (P. Z. S. 1877 

 p. 487), not having succeeded in realizing the differences in dead specimens, 

 has united the two species. 



