68 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



usually, marshy places, though some Ibises feed 

 on dry ground. 



Economic Qualities. — They are useful vermin-des- 

 troyers, and some are good eating. 



Captivity. — No waders thrive better in this condition, 

 and several breed readily. 



Distribution and Important Species. — ^These birds, 

 numbering about thirty species, are found all 

 round the world, chiefly in warm climates. The 

 most widely distributed is the migratory glossy 

 Ibis (Falcinellus igneus), found in both worlds, 

 and a rare straggler to Britain. The White Spoon- 

 bill (Platalea alba) is also widely spread in the 

 Old World, and used to breed here. The cele- 

 brated Sacred Ibis {Ibis religiosa), a white bird 

 with a black, bare head, and filamentous black 

 wing-plumes, is well known in Africa, being called 

 Schoorsteen-veger (Chimney-Sweeper) at the Cape. 

 A familiar species in South America is the Scarlet 

 Ibis (Eudocimus ruber), whose name expresses its 

 prevailing colour, which, however, fades in cap- 

 tivity. 



Ja^amars {Galhulidce). 



Diagnosis. — Perching birds, with long bills and small 

 feet with two toes in front. 



Size. — From that of a thrush to that of a skylark. 



Form. — Bill much like a kingfisher's, long, straight, 

 and tapering, except in one species, the largest, 

 and surrounded with bristles at the base ; feet 

 small, with very short shanks and two toes in 

 front, united at the base, the fourth toe turned 

 back with the hind one — sometimes the latter is 

 missing, and the bird three-toed. Wings short. 

 Tail rather long ; head rather large. 



