OVARA. 123 



and wiilo borders to exterior primaries (ehicfly on outer wohs), deep snufT-browii. 

 Lengtii about 28.00-33.00, wing 14.10-15.30, eulmen 6.20-7.15, greatest width of 

 bill 2.00-2.20, tarsus 3.75-4.G5, middle toe 2.95-3.35. Eijgs 2.57 X l-^S, ovate, white, 

 or butty white, blotehed, spotted, and stained M'ith various shades of brown. Hab. 

 Tropical America in general, north to southern Atlantic and Gulf States, and casually 

 (formerly- at least) to California and southern Illinois. 



183. A. ajaja (Linn.). Eoseate Spoonbill. 



Family IBIDID^.— The Ibises. (Page 122.) 



Genera. 



a^. Ilead of adult wholly naked anteriorly; feathers of crown short, close, and 

 blended ; plumage of wings and tail pure white or scarlet in adult (the 

 former with glossy black tips to longer quills), dull graj'ish brown or dusky 

 in young Guara. (Page 123.) 



a'. Head of adult wholly feathered, except lores ; feathers of crown distinctly 

 lanceolate and slightly elongated, forming a short rounded crest when 

 erected; jilumage of wings and tail highly metallic, in both old and young. 



Plegadis. (Page 123.) 



Genus GUARA Reiciienbach. (Page 123, pi. XXX., fig. 2.) 

 Species. 

 CoMJiox Characters. — Adults with the plumage entirely uniform white or 

 scarlet, except tips of the longer quills, which are glossy black. Young, uniform 

 dark brownish gray, the belly white. Eggs greenish white, buffy, or pale brown- 

 ish, stained, blotched, and spotted with brown. 



aK Adult : Pure white (tinted with delicate pink in freshly-killed specimens), the 

 tips of the longer quills glossy greenish black. Young: Uniform grayish 

 brown, the rump, tail-coverts, base of tail, and under parts of body white. 

 Length 21.50-27.50, wing 10.30-11.75, eulmen 4.15-6.30, tarsus 3.10-4.00, 

 middle toe 2.15-2.70. Eggs 2.24 X 1-48. JIab. Tropical America in general, 

 including "West Indies ; north, regularly, to North Carolina, southern Illinois 

 and Indiana, and Lower California, casually to Great Salt Lake, Long Island, 

 and Connecticut 184. G. alba (Linn.). White Ihis. 



a'. Adult : Pure intense scarlet, the tips of the longer primaries glossy blue-black. 

 Young : Dark brownish gray, the belly white. Length about 28.00-30.00, 

 wing 10.80-11.00, eulmen 6.00-6.50, tarsus 3.70-3.80, middle toe 2.55-2.60 

 Eggs 2.12 X 1-46. Ilab. Eastern coasts of tropical America, north, casually, 

 to Florida, Louisiana, and Texas 185. G. rubra (Linn.). Scarlet Ibis. 



Genus PLEGADIS Kaip. (Page 123. pi. XXX., fig. 1.) 

 Species. 

 Common Ciiar.vcters. — Adults with head, neck, and (in some species) lower 

 parts uniform chestnut, the upper parts metallic green, bronze, and purple, most 



