230 NEW- YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



GENUS IBIS. Cuvier. 



Bill very long, stout at the base, slender and curved throughout its length. Upper mandible 

 deeply furrowed in its whole length. Nostrils basal, linear, half closed by a membrane. 

 Tibia bare to a large extent. Anterior toes connected by membranes at the base. Second 

 quill longest. 



THE WHITE IBIS. 



Ibis alba. ^ 



Tantalus alius. LiNN-raus, Syst. p. 241. Pennant, Arct. Zoology, Vol. 2, p. 459. 



Ibis alba. Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Wilson, Am. Ornithology Vol. 8, p. 43, pi. 66, fig. 3. Bonaparte, Ann. 

 Lye. Vol. 2, p. 312 ; Geog. and Comp. List, p. 4">. NuttALL, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 86. Audobon, 

 Birds of America, Vol. 6, p. 54, pi. 360. Peabody, B. of Moss. p. 365. Gieaud, Birds of Long 

 island, p. 275. 



Characteristics. White : outer five primaries blue-black at the tips. Bill and feet reddish. 

 Female : four outer quills black at the tips. Young, dull brownish ; 

 rump whitish. Length, 24" 0. 



Description. Bill rather subquadrate at the base, carinate above, 5*0 long; the point 

 obtuse. Face bare and wrinkled. Nostrils basal : dorsal linear. Tibia bare for half its 

 length, and covered with hexagonal scales. Anterior toes webbed to the first joint. Tail 

 short, slightly emarginate. 



Color. Bill red, dusky towards the tip. Plumage white, excepting the tips of the quills. 

 Young, dull brownish ; feet bluish ; rump dull white ; tail tinged with grey. 



Length, 23" -24-0. 



The White Ibis appears at long intervals on the coast of this State, and has also been seen as 

 far north as Massachusetts. Mr. Giraud has recorded two instances in 1836 and 1843, when 

 it was obtained on Long island. Its present known geographical range is from 24° south to 

 41° north, but its habitual range is more restricted. It breeds from Florida southwardly. 

 Eggs whitish, blotched with yellowish and spotted with reddish brown. Food crayfish 

 {Astacus), aquatic insects and small fishes. 



