PLEGADig FALCINELLUS 185 



PLEGADIS FALCINELLUS (Linnajus). 

 GLOSSY IBIS. 



Tantalus falcinellus, Linn. Sijst. Nat. i, p. 241 (1766). 



Plegadis falcinellus, Kaiip, Natiirl. Syst. p. 82 (1829) ; Sharpe, Cat. 



Birds Brit. Mus. xxvi, p. 29; Erlanger, J.f. 0. 1900, p. 43. 

 Ibis falcinellus, Malherhc, Cat. Bais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 20 (1816). 

 Falcinellus igneus, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 155 (1867) ; Knenig, 



J.f. 0. 1888, p. 272; id. J.f. 0. 1893, p. 86. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Porto Farina, North Tunisia. 



Head, neck, mantle, upper-part of the scapulars, lesser wing-coverts and 

 entire underparts rich copper-hrown, with metallic reflections on the crown 

 and mantle; the remainder of the upper plumage glossy dark green with 

 purple reflections. 



Iris brown; bill dark grey at the base and blackish at the tip; feet 

 blackish-grey. 



Total length 22 inches, wing 10-50, culmen 5, tarsus 3-50. 



Adult female similar to the male, but rather smaller. 



The young bird is much duller in coloration, the head and neck being 

 streaked with white. 



The winter dress of the adult bird is duller than the summer one. 



The Glossy Ibis is to be found in Tunisia chiefly in winter and 

 spring, but probably a few individuals are to be met with at other 

 seasons as well, and the species may be considered as partially 

 resident in the country. It is perhaps rather more abundant in the 

 nortli, but may also be observed in the south of the Regency, and 

 has been obtained at Tatahouine. According to Loche, the species is 

 resident and not uncommon in Algeria, and the same seems to be the 

 case in Marocco, where, although chiefly to be observed on passage, 

 according to Favier " some must remain to nest in the country, for 

 they are frequently met with during May, June, and July " (Orn. 

 Strs. Gib. p. 191). In Sicily, the Glossy Ibis is abundant on passage, 

 particularly in spring, and Doderlein states that it breeds, or used 

 to do so, in the marshes near Catania, where he himself obtained its 

 young towards the end of May (Avif. Mod. et Sic. p. 220). 



The principal breeding-quarters of this species in Europe, are in 

 the south-eastern parts of the Continent. 



Its geographical range is apparently a wide one, extending to all 

 five divisions of the globe. 



