STORKS. 127 



Nest, of reeds and weed stalks, in trees, bushes, and reedy marshes. Eggs, 

 three to five, pale greenish white, with chocolate markings generally most 

 numerous at the larger end, 2-25 x 1-50. 



This locally abundant species is generally found in flocks of five or 

 six to as many hundred birds which frequent mud flats, marshes, or 

 the borders of lagoons. They fly in close rank, and when in large 

 flocks, with their snowy plumage glistening in the sunlight and their 

 wing-strokes accented by the black-tipped primaries, form a strikingly 

 beautiful picture. 



The SCARLET IBIS (185. Guara rubrd), a South American species, has been 

 recorded from Florida, Louisiana, and New Mexico. (See Brewster, Bull. 

 Kutt. Orn. Club, viii, 1883, p. 185 ; also Scott, Auk, vi, 1889, p. 15.) 



186. Plegadis autumnalis (Hasselq.). GLOSSY IBIS. Ad. Rich 



chestnut, upper and under tail-coverts, back, wings, and front of the head 

 with greenish and purplish reflections; lores (in skins) blackish. Im. Head 

 and neck fuscous-brown, the feathers laterally margined with white ; rest of 

 under parts dull fuscous-brown; back with greenish reflections. L., 24-00: 

 W., 11-50; Tar., 3-10; B., 5-00. 



Range. Tropical and subtropical regions generally ; rare and of local dis- 

 tribution in the southeastern United States and West Indies. 



Washington, A. V., two records. Long Island, A. V., two records. Cam- 

 bridge, A. V., one record, May. 



Nest, of rushes, plant stems, etc., in reedy swamps or low bushes. Eggs, 

 three, rather deep, dull blue, 2'01 x 1-47. 



This is a rare species in the eastern United States. Its haunts are 

 of much the same nature as those of the preceding species. 



The WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS (187. Plegadis guarauna), & locally com- 

 mon species from Texas westward and southward, has been recorded but once 

 from east of the Mississippi, viz., at or near Lake Washington, Florida, where 

 a female was shot on a nest containing three eggs (Brewster, Auk, iii, 1886, 

 p. 482). This species resembles the Glossy Ibis, but adults have the region 

 about the base of the bill white. 



FAMILY CICONIID^:. STORKS. 



Only two of the twenty-five known species included in this family 

 are found in North America. Storks are both gregarious and solitary. 

 Our species, the so-called Wood Ibis, is as a rule found in flocks and 

 nests in colonies. It feeds in swamps and on the shores of bayous, 

 where it is said to " rake " the bottom with its foot in searching for 

 food. It is a strong flier, a certain number of wing-strokes being fol- 

 lowed by a short sail. At times it mounts high in the air and sails 

 about like a Vulture. Sometimes it perches upon trees. Its voice is 

 described as a rough, guttural croak. 



