THE SCARLET IBIS. 



(Guara rubra.} 



IBISES are distributed throughout 

 the warmer parts of the globe and 

 number, according to the best 

 authorities, about thirty species, 

 of which four occur in North America. 

 The scarlet ibis is a South American 

 species, though it has been recorded 

 from Florida, Louisiana, and New 

 Mexico. The ibises are silent birds, 

 and live in flocks during the entire year. 

 They feed along the shores of lakes, 

 bays, and salt-water lagoons, and on 

 mud flats, over which the tide rises 



and falls. Their food consists of crus 

 taceans, frogs, and small fish. 



Colonies of ibises build nests in 

 reedy marshes, or in low trees and 

 bushes not far from good feeding- 

 grounds. Three to five pale greenish 

 eggs, marked with chocolate, are found 

 in the coarse, bulky nest of reeds and 

 weed stalks. 



These birds are not so numerous as 

 they once were. They have been wan 

 tonly destroyed for their plumage 

 alone, the flesh being unfit for food. 



CHIPPY A BABY MOCKING BIRD. 



MARTHA CROMBIE WOOD. 



ONE bright day early in August I 

 sat by my window writing. My 

 attention was soon attracted by 

 a pair of mocking birds which 

 were flying back and forth between a 

 peach-tree and a plum-tree near by. 



These birds having been near neigh 

 bors of mine for some time, I had named 

 them Jack and Jill. 



A family quarrel seemed brewing, for 

 Jack evidently found more goo'd points 

 in the plum-tree and scolded Jill for 

 spending any time in the peach-tree, 

 while Jill was equally impressed with 

 the favorable aspect of the peach-tree. 

 I thought they were trying to decide 

 upon a location for a nest and was soon 

 convinced that I was right, for Jack 

 ended the family disagreement by tak 

 ing a twig in his bill and carrying it to 

 the plum-tree, where he began balanc 

 ing it among some of the small 

 branches. His mate continued to scold 

 from her place in the peach-tree, but 

 when he paid no attention to her and 

 went on with his work she soon relented 

 and flew down to offer her assistance. 



With very little difficulty these birds 

 could carry a twig six or eight inches 

 long and a quarter of an inch in diame 

 ter. Several of these large twigs were 

 laid loosely among the forks of three 



small branches and then a more com 

 pact structure was placed upon this 

 foundation. This was made of smaller 

 twigs, with roots and stems of Bermuda 

 grass twisted among them. A lining 

 composed of horse hair, grass, cotton, 

 a piece of satin ribbon some three 

 inches long, bits of paper, string and 

 rag completed the home. 



There was very little weaving in the 

 construction of the nest and the most 

 wonderful as well as the most curious 

 thing about it was how it could be made 

 so loosely and not fall apart during the 

 very high winds which we have in cen 

 tral Texas. 



While the eggs were being hatched 

 there was a violent storm which lasted 

 all day, and several times I saw the tree 

 bend nearly to the ground. Each time 

 I was afraid I should see the destruc 

 tion of this home, which had become so 

 interesting to me. As I watched the 

 tree writhe in the storm I began to ap 

 preciate the wisdom shown by the bird 

 in the selection of the place for his nest, 

 for it was in the part of the tree least 

 disturbed by the wind and most thor 

 oughly protected from the rain. 



During the long nights the mocking 

 bird often sang to his mate as she pa 

 tiently sat on the nest. 



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