186 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



In its habits the Glossy Ibis is sociable and gregarious, and maj' 

 often be found in very large flocks, though occasionally it is to be 

 met with singly or in pairs. It frequents marshes, the borders of 

 lakes and rivers, and the sea-shore, and feeds chiefly on small 

 Crustacea, amphibia, worms and aquatic insects. It is silent, as a 

 rule, but utters a low note when suddenly disturbed. Its flight 

 resembles that of the Spoonbill. It nests in colonies, and in marshes 

 or other swampy localities, placing its nest of sticks and dry rushes 

 on the ground, in low bushes, or in trees, according to circumstances. 

 The eggs, three or four in number, are of a dark greenish-blue, and 

 measure about 51 X 38 mm. 



Family PHCENICOPTEKID^. 



PH(ENICOPTERUS ROSEUS, Pallas. 

 FLAMINGO. 



Phoenicopterus roseus, Pall. Zoogr. Boss.-As. ii, p. 207 (1811) ; 



Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mm. xxvii, p. 12 ; Loche, Expl. Sci. Alcj. 



Ois. ii, p. 146 (1867); Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 291 ; id. J.f. 0. 1893, 



p. 102 ; Whitaker, Ibis, 1894, p. 98; Erlanger, J.f. 0. 1900, p. 40. 

 Phoenicopterus antiquorum, Malherhc, Cat. liais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 20 



(1846). 



Description — Adult male, winter, from the Lake of Tunis. 



Entire plumage, except the wings, creamy-white, tinged with rose, 

 becoming rather darker on the back and tail ; upper wing-coverts, as well 

 as the lesser under-coverts and axillaries verrailion-rose ; quills black. 



Iris pale yellow ; bare space round the eye pale pink ; bill pale pink at 

 the base, and black on the terminal portion ; feet pale rose. 



Total length 50 inches, wing 18'50, cnlmen 6, tarsus 12-50. 



Adult female similar to the male. 



The young bird has its plumage whitish with a good deal of ash-brown 

 on the back and wing-coverts, the quills brown, and the axillaries pale 

 rose ; bill greyish-rose, and brown at the tip, feet dark grey. 



Observations. — Individuals of this species vary greatly in size. Verreaux's 

 P. erythraus (Eev. et Mag. Zool. p. 221), ajipears to have been founded on 

 small and brilliantly coloured examples of the present species. 



