304 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
Rough Key to Ceylon Ibidide. 
A.—Plumage white ; head and neck naked in adults. 
Ibis melanocephala (White Ibis). 
B.—Plumage coloured; head and neck feathered, except in 
front of the eye. 
Plegadis falcinellus (Glossy Ibis). 
IBIS MELANOCEPHALA (Blanford, Vol. IV., p. 361 ; 
Legge, p. 1106). 
The White Ibis. 
Description.—Plumage white ; the tertiaries slate-gray at 
the ends ; the primaries generally mottled with brown at the 
tips ; the skin of the head and neck black and naked in adults. 
In breeding plumage the tertiaries grow long and soft, and 
there are a few plumes on the upper breast. 
Young birds have blackish-gray feathers on the head and 
neck as far forward as the eyes. 
Bill black ; iris red-brown; legs and feet black ; wing skin 
scarlet. 
Length 30; wing 14; tail 5; tarsus 4; bill from gape 6°5. 
Distribution.—Scattered throughout the northern half of 
the Island and down the east side as far south as Tangalla. 
Occurs throughout India and Burma, and ranges eastward to 
China and South Japan. 
Habits.—This species may be found in flocks here and there 
round the large tanks or in marshes, feeding on molluses, 
worms, &c. 
The birds breed in colonies, mainly during the north-east 
monsoon rains, but occasionally later, as I have found young 
unable to fly in July. The nests are fairly large platforms of 
twigs placed on trees growing in the water. Three eggs are 
generally laid; they are white elongated ovals, sometimes 
delicately spotted with brown, and measuring on an average 
2°57 by 1°65. 
