124 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
on the ground, its resonan#™netallic cry. It is wary 
and has a strong, easy flight, and is a great wanderer, 
but I am not able to say whether it possesses a regular 
migration or not. 
The celebrated naturalist Natterer procured speci- 
mens of this Ibis in the lagoons of Caicara, in the 
Brazilian province of Matogrosso, in September and 
November, 1825, but it is not mentioned by general 
writers on the birds of South-east Brazil. 
WHISPERING IBIS 
Phimosus infuscatus 
Dark bronzy green, glossed with purple; fore-part and sides of head 
and neck naked, red; bill and feet red; length 24, wing 11.5 inches. 
OF this Ibis, which ranges from Colombia to the 
Argentine Republic, a few individuals come as far 
south as the pampas of Buenos Ayres. 
The unfeathered state of the fore part of the head 
and throat suggested to Azara the name of Afeytado, 
or ‘‘ shaved,’”” but about its habits he has nothing 
to say, nor does he mention its peculiar voice, or, 
perhaps it would be more correct to say, its want of 
voice; for it seems quite silent unless one comes 
near to it and listens very intently, when he will 
be able to hear little sigh-like puffs of sound as 
the bird flies away. It seems strange that this 
member of a loquacious loud-voiced family should 
be reduced to speak as it were in whispers ! 
