254 IBIDIDiE : IBISES. 



Family IBIDID^: Ibises. 



GLOSSY IBIS. 



Plegadis falcinellus (LhiJi.) Kaup. 



Chars. Bill very long and slender, compressed-cylindric, curved 

 downward, deeply grooved nearly or quite to the obtuse tip (thus 

 closely resembling the bill of a Curlew). Nostrils linear, in ad- 

 vance of base of upper mandible. Frontal feathers sweeping with 

 convex outline across forehead near but not quite at base of bill ; 

 lores broadly naked, the bare space embracing the eyes ; a 

 pointed projection of feathers on side of lower mandible ; another 

 median one advancing acutely on bare space of the chin. 

 Tibiae bare for a distance equal to one half or more of the length 

 of tarsus, which latter is longer than the middle toe and claw ; 

 mostly reticulate, but scutellate in front. Lateral toes un- 

 equal, the inner shortest ; claws all long and slightly curved ; 

 inner edge of middle claw dilated and jagged, but not regularly 

 combed as in a Heron. Coloration dark glossy green and 

 chestnut or mahogany color. Length about 24.00 ; extent about 

 36.00; wing, lo.oo-ii.oo; tail, 4.00; bill, 4.50-5.50 ; tibiae bare 

 2.50 ; tarsus, 3.50. 



Leaving now the Limicoline or plover-snipe group, 

 with the last of the large family ScolopacidcB, we enter 

 upon quite a different order of birds, — that of the 

 Herodiones, or Herons and their allies, among which 

 are the Ibises, constituting a family apart from Ardei- 

 dcB, or the Herons proper. Two species of Ibis have 

 occurred in New England — the Glossy and the White 

 Ibis ; both, however, are rare and casual visitors. 



In the case of this remarkable visitor to our country 



