GRALLATORES. 4Q3 



Ibis immediately seizes it with its bill. This bird is known in 

 Louisiana by the name of "Spanish Curlew." 



The SCARLET IBIS, Ibis rubra, is a splendid bird, sometimes, 

 though rarely, seen in Louisiana and the adjacent States, but in 

 the hottest portions of this continent, is found in large flocks. This 

 bird flies rapidly, but rarely, except at morning and evening, in 

 search of food. The plumage is scarlet ; beak naked ; part of 

 the cheeks, legs and feet, pale red. Its length is twenty-nine 

 inches. 



The WOOD IBIS, Tantalus loculator, is an extremely large 

 species, being forty-four inches, with a bill that is nine inches in 

 length. It is found in deep woody swamps, (where it breeds on 

 trees ;) also in fresh water lakes. These birds, after gorging 

 themselves with their fishy or reptile-food, taken in shallow, 

 muddy streams, walk to the nearest margin and arrange them- 

 selves in long rows, with all their breasts turned towards the 

 sun, in the manner of Pelicans and Vultures, and thus remain 

 for an hour or more. In flying, their long necks and legs are 

 stretched out to their full extent, the pure white of their plumage 

 contrasting beautifully with the jet black of the tips of the wings. 

 Although generally fat, they are unfit for food, their flesh 

 being tough and oily. They are resident from Texas to North 

 Carolina. Other species of the Ibis are found in India, Mada- 

 gascar, and the Cape of Good Hope. 



The OPEN-BEAKED BIRDS, Anastomus, (Gr. ana, through ; 

 stoma, mouth,) are included by Swainson in this family. The 

 generic name was given to these birds by llliger; that of Lace- 

 pede, is Hians, (opening and gaping,) They have a straight 

 had and heavy bill, marked with wrinkles running lengthwise. 

 The upper mandible is very straight ; the base thickened at the 

 top, and as high as the crown ; the tip notched ; the margin 

 dentated; the under mandible is greatly curved upwards, only 

 touching the upper at the base, and at the tip, and thus leaving 

 an opening through or between the two portions of the bill. Not 

 much is known respecting the economy of these birds, and hence 

 it is not easy to explain the purpose of the unique structure 

 shown in the beak. Cuvier places the genus Tantalus between 

 these birds and the Spoonbills, (Platalea.) 



FIFTH FAMILY. SNIPES. 

 Scolopacida, (Gr. axoldnaZ, scolopax, a snipe.) 



The most prominent characteristic of this family, is the extreme 

 length and slenderness of the beak. This is covered with a soft 



