324 THE GLOSSY-IBIS 



with a few sallows among them, or in the half-submerged willow trees, 

 the nests of the pygmy-cormorant and glossy-ibis may be found in 

 close proximity. In India the more usual site seems to be in a good- 

 sized tree, but here the same tendency to breed in company with 

 other species is shown, various species of ibis, egret, and cormorants 

 nesting in the same colonies. 1 



Throughout Europe the glossy-ibis is a summer visitor only, 

 crossing the Straits of Gibraltar late in April, and passing through 

 Greece on its way north to the Danube valley between the end of 

 March and the middle of May, migrating in large and small flocks. 

 In Spain it is generally regarded as a later breeder than the other 

 species of herons ; but in the Obedska Bara Eagle Clarke found fresh 

 eggs of most species which were breeding there at about the same 

 time in May. The eggs, as a rule, vary from 3 to 4 in number; 

 but Baldamus states that 5 are sometimes found, and the Hun- 

 garian National Museum contains clutches of 6. Their colour is 

 very remarkable, an intensely deep blue, quite devoid of markings. 

 In this character they resemble the eggs of the herons, which are 

 always some shade of greenish blue ; but, on the other hand, the eggs 

 of the other species of ibis approach the spoonbill type of egg, and are 

 for the most part white with reddish brown markings. The average 

 size of 105 eggs is 2'03 x T44 in. [51 '8x36-7 mm.]. Owing to the 

 difficulty of making observations, little is known of the domestic 

 habits of this species. Heinroth gives the incubation period as 21 to 

 22 days. The newly hatched young are pretty little creatures, 

 covered with blackish grey down, which is longest on the head, and 

 showing a curious white band on the crown, while the bill in life has 

 a black tip and base and is ivory-white between. Alleon describes 

 them as holding the neck retracted, while the head was continually 

 raised and depressed, each movement being accompanied by a little 

 note. Colonel Legge found that the young, while still unable to fly, 

 on his approach stood up and began to climb actively among the 



1 For details see Doig, Stray Feathers, 1879, p. 377 ; Legge, Birds of Ceylon ; and Hume and 

 Gates, Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, iii. p. 231. 



