Dr. 13. S. Barton's Account of the Tantalus Ephoushjca. 25 



five or six inches in lengtli, arched or bent gradually downwards, 

 in that respect to be compared to one half of a bent bow : it is 

 large or thick near the base, compressed on each side, and flatted 

 at top and ])encath, which makes it appear four-square for more 

 than an incii, where the nostrils arc placed, from whence to their 

 tips both mandibles are round, gradually lessening or tapering to 

 their extremities, which are thicker for about half an inch than 

 immediately above, by which the mandibles never fit quite close 

 their whole length : the upper mandible is a small matter longer 

 than the under: the bill is of a dusky green colour, more bright 

 and yellowish about the base and angles of the mouth. The tail 

 is very short, and the middle feather the longest: the others on 

 each side shorten gradually, and are of the colour of the rest of 

 the bird, only somewhat darker: the two shortest or outermost 

 feathers arc perfectly white, which the bird has a faculty of flirt- 

 ing out on either side as quick as a flash of lightning, especially 

 when he hears or sees any thing that disturbs him, uttering at the 

 same instant an extreme harsh and loud shriek. His neck is long 

 and slender ; and his legs are also long, and bare of feathers above 

 the knee, like those of the bittern, and are black, or of a dark 

 lead colour*." 



It will be evident, I think, from an inspection of the drawing, 

 that the Ephouskyca is a species of the genus Tantalus or Ibis; 

 a genus of which America produces many species, several of 

 which are now known to be natives of the United States. I can- 

 not, however, find that the " Crying Bird" is noticed by any of 

 the European ornithologists. I am pretty sure that it is not one 

 of the nineteen species described by Mr. Latham in his General 

 Sijnopni'i of Birds. I may add, that our bird has entirely escaped 



* Travels through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, &c., by 

 William Bartram, pp. 147, 148. Philadelphia, 1791. 



VOL. XII. E the 



