28 EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



ered with a chalky incrustation. Breeds on the Bahamas, 

 in the West Indies, and tropical America, early in May. The 

 birds occur in Florida. (Type, Plate IV.) 



ORDER VIL — HERODIONES. Herons, Storks, 

 Ibises, etc. 



Birds of this order usually nest in trees or bushes, and, with 

 few exceptions, lay unspotted eggs. 



Family XVI. — FLATALEID^. SpoojmiLLS. 



Nests, composed of sticks, and placed in trees. Eggs, more 

 or less spotted. 



183. Roseate Spoonbill, Ajaja ajaja. Eggs, 2 or 3, oval, 

 ashy white, spotted and blotched rather sparingly Avith pale 

 reddish brown ; 1.70 + 2.50 to 1.75 + 2.60. Breeds in the 

 Gulf States and southward, the Bahamas and West Indies, and 

 in Florida, in February and March. 



Family XVII. — IBIDID^. Ibises. 



Members of this family place their nests, which are con- 

 Btructed of sticks, in trees or bushes. Eggs, either spotted or 

 plain; 



184. White Ibis, Guara alba. Eggs. 2 or 3, oval, ashy blue, 

 spotted and blotched with reddish brown ; 1.40 -|- 2.15 to 1.65 

 2.40. Breeds in the Gulf States and southward, in May. 



185. Scaelet Ibis, Guara rubra. Eggs, oblong oval, dull 

 white, slightly tinged with reddish, and nearly covered with 

 spots of dull reddish brown, especially on the larger end ; 2.10 

 + 2.45 to 1.60-}- 2.41. Extralimital ; breeds in the West 

 Indies and Northern South America. Birds accidental in the 

 Gulf States, but there is no recent authentic record of its oo- 

 ciuTence. 



