DESCRIPTION, DISTRIBUTION, HABITS 



Wood Ibis {Pseicdotantaliis ibis). (Vol. II., p. 227.) 



Description. — Above white with a rosy tinge, the wing 

 coverts having a strong subterminal bar of crimson lake. The 

 crown of head, sides of face, and throat are bare and red in 

 colour. Neck and under parts white. Primaries and their 

 coverts, secondaries, and tail black. Axillaries and under tail 

 coverts white, tinged with pink. Under tail coverts strongly- 

 marked with rich crimson subterminal band. Iris brown. 

 Bill golden-yellow. Bare parts of face red with border of yellow. 

 Feet brick-red. Toes black. 



Lengthy 46.0 ; wing, 21.0 ; tail, 7.0. 



The young bird has the back, wings, and neck brown, 

 and the bare parts of its face are yellow. 



Distribution. — This ibis is found throughout tropical Africa, 

 from Gambia and Soudan, southwards. It is rare south of the 

 Zambesi, but is found occasionally throughout the country. 



Habits. — The wood ibis is usually seen in small parties 

 along the banks of rivers and streams, searching for food in 

 shallow water. It spends most of its time wading about in the 

 shallows, with its bill and sometimes its whole head submerged, 

 probing for its food, which consists chiefly of disease-carrying 

 snails, aquatic insects, small fishes, and batrachia. Its flight 

 is laboured and slow. The head and legs are stretched out 

 similar to the stork when flying. 



Flamingo [Phmiicopterus roseus). (Vol. II., p. 233.) 



Description. — Male : above, general colour white, tinged 

 with rose, especially on the tail. Below also white, tinged 

 with rose similar to the back. Primaries, outer secondaries, 

 and coverts black. Rest of wing and axillaries bright crimson. 

 Iris pale straw. Bill flesh pink, the terminal third being black. 

 Skin on throat and round the eyes flesh pink. Legs livid pink. 

 Claws black. 



Length, 55.0 ; wing, 18.5 ; tail, 6.0. 



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