244 



KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



rump and gray or grayish brown tail ; the rump is always white, never l)rown, as in tlie young 

 of the Scarlet Ibis. There is a great difference in size of individuals. 

 Adult: Length, 26; Wing, 11.25; ^^'IK 6.30. 



Guara alba (adult). 



Ranges throughout tropical America and is claimed to have been found 

 breeding as far north as Illinois and South Carolina, and it has been taken 

 as far north as Long Island. It is a common species in Florida, where it 

 breeds. The nest is a mass of grass and weeds placed in bushes and some- 

 times in trees. The eggs are usually from four to five, and greenish white 

 in color marked with chocolate brown. 



GUARA RUBRA (Lmn.). 

 Scarlet ibis. 



Adult : General plumage scarlet ; tips of the outer primaries black : bare skin of tlie liead, 

 bill, and legs red. 



The immature are mixed brownish gray, pale on the under parts, having the rump brownish 

 like the back. 



The immature of this species may be easily distinguished from the immature of the White 

 Ibis by the color of the rump. 



Adult: Length, 28; Wing, n; Bill, 6.50. 



This species has but a very slight claim to be included among our birds. 

 I know of no positive record of its capture in the United States. Audubon 

 claimed to have seen this species in Louisiana but did not procure a specimen. 



