THE BIRDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 91 



species in 1838 by Gould. Abbott has forwarded specimens labeled 

 fitang Saumatre taken April 5 and 6, 1920. One was secured from a 

 lake near Thomazeau May 13, and one near Manneville on May 14, in 

 the same year. Bartsch observed the species at Trou Caiman April 

 4, 1917, and Abbott collected specimens there on March 12, 1918, and 

 April 7, 1920. Beebe records glossy ibises at the fitang Miragoane. 

 Wetmore saw glossy ibises feeding in swampy meadows at that point 

 on April 1, 1927, and a number came flying overhead when disturbed 

 by the discharge of a gun. Near Desdunes on April 28, a flock 

 of twenty rose at the passage of an airplane, in which Wetmore was 

 passenger, and unlike the herons which remained near the water, 

 ascended to the level of the passing airship, and finally rose above 

 it. Danforth and Emlen saw one on the Artibonite Sloughs beyond 

 St. Marc July 28, 1927. Bond records them as common locally at 

 fitang Miragoane, Trou Caiman, on the Artibonite Plain, and at 

 Fort Liberte. On June 22, 1928 he found a large breeding colony 

 in the Trou Caiman swamp, most of the nests containing young, with 

 many out of the nest. He examined one set of four eggs. 



The glossy ibis is found about fresh or brackish ponds whefe the 

 water is shallow, or in marshy meadows. It usually occurs in 

 flocks that are alert and if hunted do not permit close approach. 

 The birds have a strong, direct flight with the neck and long, curved 

 bill extended straight in front so that their profile in the air is en- 

 tirely different from that of the straight-billed herons. Their flock 

 formation is highly pleasing as the birds move in lines or angled 

 flocks with each individual holding position with military precision 

 at a set distance from his companions. 



The glossy ibis stands as tall as the smaller herons but is heavier 

 in body. When feeding or flying it appears plain black so that the 

 hunter is astonished when one comes to hand to find that the feathers 

 of the back show a glint of green, and that in the adult the head, 

 neck and underparts are coppery brown with, in places, a metallic 

 sheen. The young are duller and have the coppery color replaced 

 by dull brown, the head and neck being obscurely streaked with 

 white. 



GTJARA ALBA (Linnaeus) 

 WHITE IBIS, C0C6, C0C6 BLANCO 



Soolopax alba Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 145 (Carolina). 



? Gru blanche d'Amerique, Descoubttlz, Voy. Nat., vol. 2, 1809, pp. 221-222 

 (Haiti, rare; specimen). 



Tantalus albus, Rittee, Naturh. Reis. Westind. Insel Hayti, 1836, pp. 152, 

 157 (Haiti, rare; specimen). 



Ibis alba, Tristram, Cat. Coll. Birds belonging H. B. Tristram, 1889, p. 270 

 (Dominican Republic, specimen). 



