161 



Tantalus jEt/iiopicus. Ibis Macei, Cuv., Ann.Mus. 1 1. 125. 



IV/tite Ibis ivith purple black secondary quill decomposed fea- 



thers, Ind. Orn. 2. 706. 



Col. Sykes carefully compared tliedescriptionsand measurements 



of the larger Mummy Ibis of Cuvier ; and is induced to believe 



the present bird is tlie šame. Col. Sykes puts into juxta- 



position the measuiements of Cuvier's Mummi/ Ibis from Thebes 



and one of his ovvn birds : 



Mummy Ibis. Dukhun Ibis. 

 Inchea. Inches. 



Length of beak and head together. . . . 827 8"15 



Head 1 '85 1-80 



Tibia 5-90 5-80 



Tarsus 4-01 3-80 



Middle toe 3-81 3-50 



Ulna 601 5-95 



Hand 4-92 4-80 



The individual of which the measurements are given has the two 

 first quills tipped with violet, their shafts of the šame colour, 

 and four of the secondary ąuills are also violet and with their 

 webs decomposed, according with Cuvier's description, The 

 violet colour is not so deep as in the jEthiopiari Ibis ; but as in 

 all Col. Sykes's specimens (nine in number; the violet feathers 

 are in progress of development, the colour vvould no doubt 

 subsequently be darker. Cuvier mentions that the Mummy 

 Ibis varied a little in size. Col. S. has birds larger and smaller 

 than that of wliich the measurements are given. 

 Appear in Dukhun in the cold vveather only. Gregarious. 

 Irides narrovv, lake colour. Food water-crickets, crabs, beetles, 

 shrimps. Length, inclusive of tail, 30 to 354- inches : tail 5tV 

 to 5rV- Bill and head to occiput 7tV to 9tV inches. Bill to 

 the gape 6n^ to "tV inches. 

 189. Ibisignea. Tantalus igneus, Lath., Ind. Orn. 2.708. 12. Ibis 

 falcinellus, Temm., Man. d'Orn., 2nd Edit. 2. 596. 

 Col. Sykes's birds, malė and feraale, are identical with two Euro- 

 pean specimens in the British Museum labelled Ibis ignea, and 

 viewed as the immature birds of Ibis Jalcinellus. Col. Sykes 

 hovvever has seen so many of both in India, appearing in dif- 

 ferent flocks at the šame period of the year, and not having, 

 as M. Tenuninck describes the birds before they are three years 

 old, " partie inferieure du cou, poitrine, ventre, et cuisses d'un 

 noircendrč ; haut du dos et scapulaires d'un cendre brun," but 

 of a rich fuscous brown, with brilliant metallic reflections; 

 differing also in the proportions of the internal organization ; 

 and Dr. Latham moreover describes even the youngest birds 

 of Ibis Jalcinellus as characterized by reddish brown. Hero- 

 dotus speaks of the smaller Ibis as entirely black, a description 

 inapplicable to the Ibis falcinellus, but applicableto the present 

 species, \vhich at a short distance appears entirely black. Col. 

 Sykes is therefore induced to adopt the opinion of those writers 

 who considered the bird distinct from Ibis Jalcinellus. Its 



