VALCINELLUS FALCINELLUS. 741 
In the Transvaal Mr. Ayres records it as very scarce, but he 
obtained a solitary specimen amongst the thorn-trees on the banks 
of the Vaal River. Mr. Andersson says: ‘‘This Ibis is found 
abundantly in the Lake-regions and on the Rivers Teoughe and 
Botletlé. It feeds on imsects, but does not despise other kinds of 
food; it is always observed in flocks, which vary from a few 
individuals to a dozen or two in number. These birds roost at 
night on trees in the immediate neighbourhood of water, which 
they leave at daybreak for their favourite feeding-grounds; these 
are sometimes situate in dense forest bush, sometimes in reedy 
thickets, and sometimes amongst rocks. They always return to the 
same tree at night, and thus often fall an easy prey to the marks- 
man, who conceals himself in ambush within a convenient distance 
of their favourite perch, birds of this species being much sought 
after for their flesh, which is very palatable. When suddenly 
disturbed, or when straggling back to their nightly quarters, these 
birds scream most vociferously ; and during my arduous and 
tortuous ascent and descent of the Teoughe, I was not unfrequently 
quite startled by their dining noise as we surprised them in their 
reedy resorts, or as we passed at a sudden turn of the river, under 
one of their roosting-places which had been previously hidden from 
our view. This Ibis builds on trees overhanging the water; the 
nest is constructed of rough sticks, superficially lined with fibrous 
roots, tendrils, and grasses, and is so slightly depressed above that 
the hollow is barely sufficient to admit the eggs and to prevent them 
from falling out. It is said that these birds, when not disturbed, 
will nest in the same tree for several successive seasons.” 
General colour above, dark brown, glossed with shining-green 
and purple, especially on the wings and tail ; head, neck, and under 
parts, dull brownish grey; ridge of the bill near the head, red, 
the rest black; legs red-brown. Length, 2’ 5’; wing, 144’; 
tail, 7’. 
Fig. Vieill. et Oudart, Gal. Ois. pl. 245. 
716. FancmeLtus FALcineLtus (L.). Glossy Ibis. 
Ibis falcinellus, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 319. 
Hartlaub cites this as a South African species; but it has not 
come under our notice, dead or alive; and it is quite familiar to us 
in either state, as we shot many of them in Ceylon. 
