The Ibis. 



359 



during the breeding season. The Spoonbill migrates 

 northward in the summer, and returns to southern 

 climes on the approach of winter; and is found in all 

 the intermediate low countries between the Faroe Isles 

 and the Cape of Good Hope. 



The American or Eoseate Spoonbill (Platalea Ajajd) is 

 very beautiful. Its colour is white, tinged with rose, 

 which deepens in the wings and tail into the richest 

 carmine. The feet are half- webbed, and the bird is 

 generally found on the sea- coast, where it wades into 

 the sea in quest of the small shell-fish of different kinds, 

 on which it feeds. 



THE IBIS. (Ibis religiosa.) 



THE IBIS was regarded as a sacred bird by the ancient 

 Egyptians, who used to have these birds walking about 

 in their temples, and embalmed their bodies after death 

 with as much care as those of their priests and kings. 

 The cause of this veneration is not clearly ascertained, 

 some authors supposing it to bo duo to the services 



