INOCOTIS. 3G3 



vii, p. 92; Hume. Cat. no. 942; Doig, S. F. riii, pp. 372, 377 ; 

 Butler, S. F. ix, p. 435 ; Reid, S. P. x, p. 77 ; JJavison, ibid. 

 p. 417 ; McGregor, ibid. p. 442 ; Oates in Hume's N. fy E. 2nd ed. 

 iii, p. 228 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 390 ; id. Jour. Bom. N. H. 

 Soc. vi, p. 152; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xxvi, p. 12. 



Buza, Kola Buza, Kardnkal, H. ; Nella kankanum, Tel. ; Black Curlew, 

 King- Curlew of Anglo-Indians. 



Fig. 85. Head of /. papillosits. . 



Coloration. Neck and body above arid below dark olive-brown, 

 with slight greenish gloss on the back, a large white patch on the 

 inner lesser and marginal coverts of each wing ; rest of the wing 

 above and below and tail black, glossed with purplish and green. 



The young have the head feathered on the crown and throat, 

 the feathered area above and below ending in a point, the fore- 

 head, area round the eye, and the chin bare. Feathers of the 

 neck and body with rufous edges. 



Crown of adults nearly covered with red papiike, the area thus 

 ornamented cut off transversely behind and pointed in front, 

 remainder of naked skin of head black; bill greenish-leaden; 

 irides dull orange-red ; legs and feet brick -red. 



Length 27 ; tail 7'5 ; wing 15'5 ; tarsus 3 ; bill from gape 5-5. 



Distribution. The plains of Northern India (not the Himalayas) 

 and the Peninsula as far south as Mysore, except on the Western 

 coast. This bird is not found in Lower Bengal and is apparently 

 wanting to the eastward, but Godwin-Austen got it at Mymen 

 singh, and according to Blyth it has been obtained in Arrakan. 



Habits, fyc. The Black Ibis is far less of a marsh bird than the 

 White Ibis, and is generally found on dry cultivation or open 

 ground in pairs or small parties. It is said to feed partly on 

 grain, but chiefly on insects, Crustacea, &c. It often perches on 

 large trees and it has a peculiar harsh cry, not very frequently 

 uttered except in the breeding-season. It breeds at various seasons; 

 March and April, and again in August and September, in Northern 

 India, about December in the Deccan. It makes nests of sticks 

 on trees, and lays 3 or 4 sea-green eggs, unspotted as a rule, and 

 measuring about 2-43 by 1'7. Occasionally the Black Ibis lays in 

 a nest that has been used by a vulture, eagle, or o\vl. The 

 flesh of this species is at times very good eating, far superior to 

 that of Ibis 



