IBIS. 367 



All frequent marshes and low swampy ground or river 

 sides, never sandy heaths; all are monogamous, and lay 

 their three to four pyriform eggs on the ground. Are all 

 summer migrants to the north. 



G-EOUP 1. Legs long, naked, high above the knee; the 

 outer toe always joined at the root to the inner toe by a 

 web. Are all taller than those in the second group, never 

 hiding themselves among grass; are shy, and when dis- 

 turbed, utter loud cries. 



A. Beak curved downwards like a sickle. 

 Gen. IbiSj Guv. 



Beak long and thin, very much bent, four-cornered at 

 the root ; nasal furrow extends along the whole length of 

 the beak ; nostrils basal, oblong ; a naked tract between the 

 beak and the eye ; legs high ; tibia reticulated ; tarsus with 

 transverse scales ; second and third wing feathers longest. 



187. IBIS FALCINELLTJS, L. Svart Ibis. The Glossy Ibis. 

 D.f, 



About as large as the curlew, but the beak is thicker 

 and longer, and the legs much higher ; tail 4 in. ; beak 

 in a straight line 5</ in. ; tarsus longer than the middle 

 toe ; upper parts of the body dark green, with metallic 

 gloss; under parts chestnut brown; legs green; beak 

 greenish black ; iris brown. 



Is only a casual visitant to Scandinavia, but has been 

 killed as far north as Helgoland, in Norway ; and, strange 

 to say, one specimen was shot in Iceland, and is now pre- 

 served in the Copenhagen museum. 



Eggs said to be two or three, pale sea-green colour. 



Gen. NumeniuSy Lath. 



Beak bent down, long, thin, round; nasal furrow ex- 

 tending only two-thirds of its length ; nostrils basal ; the 

 whole face covered with feathers ; the naked part of the leg 

 equal to the length of the beak ; hind toe reaches the ground 



