56 GBALLATORES. IBIS. IBIS. 



thrown out this hint for the consideration of others who 

 may enjoy more fortunate means of comparison. Species of 

 this genus are found in all the four quarters of the globe, 

 and many of them have a very extensive geographic range ; 

 none more so than the species included in the list of our 

 Fauna as an occasional, but rare, visitant, the Glossy or Bay 

 Ibis. Birds of this genus inhabit the borders of lakes and 

 rivers, and resort to such countries as are subject to periodi- 

 cal inundations. They feed on worms, insects, and mollus- 

 cous animals, and some of the species feed much upon vege- 

 tables, particularly the roots of bulbous plants. They con- 

 gregate and live in societies, and in most countries are perio- 

 dically migratory, performing their journeys in numerous 

 flocks. Their moulting is simple. The young of many 

 species differ greatly from the adult birds in colour of plu- 

 mage, and only acquire the dress of maturity after the third 

 moulting ; the consequence of which has been considerable 

 difficulty in discriminating their proper station, and, in some 

 cases, an unnecessary multiplication of specific synonyms. 

 A peculiar metallic lustre on the wings and tail distinguishes- 

 most of the species ; and some have the barbs of the tertiary 

 and secondary wing feathers long and decomposed. 



GLOSSY IBIS. 



IBIS FALCINELLUS, Temm. 

 PLATE XII. 



Ibis Falcinellus, Temm. Man. d'Ornith, 2. 598 Wagler, Syst. Av. 1. sp I. 



Flem* Br. Anim. 1. 102. 

 Ibis ignea, Steph. Shaw's Zool. 12. 13. 

 Tantalus Falcinellus, Linn. 1. 241. 2 Gmel. Syst. 1. 648 Lath Ind 



Ornith. 2. 707- 14. 



Falcinellus, Rail Syn. 103. 3 Will. 218. 54 Ib. (Angl.) 295. 54. 



Numenius viridis, JBriss. 5. 326. 4. 



Le Courlis vert, Buff. Ois. 8. 27. 



Bay Ibis, Lath. Syn, 5. 113. 12 Arct. Zool, 2. 460. A. 



