50 CICONIID.E PSEUDOTANTALUS 



district (Holub), Potchefstroom (Barratt) ; Bechuanaland Lake 

 region, common resident (Andersson), Botletli Eiver (Bryden) ; 

 German South-west Africa Damaraland, scarce (Audersson), 

 Hoaseb, on Nosob Eiver, April (Fleck) ; Zambesi Valley (Kirk 

 and Bradsbaw in Bt. Mus.). 



Habits. The Wood Ibis is found along rivers and streams where 

 there are mud or sand banks, on which it searches for its food. It 

 also wades in shallow water for the same purpose. It is usually 

 seen in small parties, and is a rare bird. 



FIG. 15. Head of Pseudotautalus ibis, x ^ 



Dr. Stark met with this species at Knysna, in February, 1897, 

 and the following account is taken from his note-book : " On the 

 flats, and in the shallow water left at low tide in Knysna Bay, 

 I noticed nearly every day seven or eight Wood Ibises. They are 

 conspicuous birds, from their size and glistening white plumage. 

 Their long yellow beaks and the bright red skin of the anterior part 

 of the face are also visible at a great distance. On the 26th I saw 

 nineteen of these birds together (including four young of the year, 

 known by their greyish-brown plumage), wading about nearly up to 

 their belligs in water, and often with the entire beak and head sub- 

 merged. On two occasions I noticed a fishing and wading bird 

 stretch out one wing to give a shade on the water, after the manner 

 of a Heron. Their flight is Stork-like, with neck and legs out- 

 stretched, and somewhat heavy and slow. On another occasion 

 I saw some of these birds fishing in shallow water overgrown with 

 grass and weeds ; they stuck their widely-opened mandibles among 

 the weeds, and felt about apparently with their tongues. The birds 

 were all comparatively tame, and were often feeding within one 

 hundred yards of the village." 



