244 THE BIRDS OF RIVER AND VLEI 



The Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) is of a dark metallic 

 green colour, with the head bald, red in colour, and the 

 bill long and red. Length, about 31 inches. It is a rare 

 bird in South Africa, and is sometimes known to the Boers 

 as the Wilde Kalkoen (Wild Turkey). 



The Wood Ibis (Pseudotantalus ibis) is of a white colour 

 above, suffused with rose-pink, especially on the wings, 

 where the wing-coverts are in addition barred with crimson- 

 lake. The wing quills, feathers and tail are black with a 

 metallic green sheen. The crown and sides of the face and 

 throat are naked, and are of a red colour, edged with 

 yellow. Neck and underparts white ; bill ^yellow ; feet 

 brick-red with the toes black. Length 43 to 47 inches. 



Young birds are brown above. This is a tropical African 

 species, occasionally ranging southwards, it being rare south 

 of the Zambesi Biver. The Zoo contained an example 

 collected near Pretoria, a portrait of which I append. 



It is found along river-banks, where it searches for its 

 food on the edge of the water or in the shallows. 



FLAMINGOES 



There are two species of this specialised type of bird in 

 South Africa, recognised by their long legs and necks and 

 the remarkably shaped bill, which is abruptly bent down- 

 wards about the middle of its length ; plumage white, 

 washed with roseate pink, the wings being black and crimson. 



The Greater Flamingo (Phcenicopterus roseus) is easily 

 distinguishable from the Lesser bird (Ph. minor) by the 

 difference in size, the former having a length of 55 inches 

 against one of 39 inches in the case of the latter species. 



They are fairly common along the coasts and on many 

 of the inland waters. Dr. Symonds records the greater 

 Flamingo from Kroonstad district, and we have seen it 



