PLEGADIS. 365 



Butler Sf Hume, 8. F. iv, p. 25 : Davidson # Wenden, S. F. vii, 

 p. 92; Sutler, ibid. p. 188: Ball, ibid. pp. 231, 234; Cripps, ibid. 

 p. 310; Hume, ibid. p. 491 ; id. Cat. no. 943; Doig, S. F. viii, 

 p. 377; Hume $ Inylis, S.' F. ix, p. 259; Butler, ibid. p. 436; 

 Swinhoe, Ibis, 1882, p. 123; Btddulph, ibid. p. 289; Reid, S. F. 

 x, p. 78 ; Davidson, ibid. p. 325; Hume, S. F. xi, p. 339; Barnes, 

 Birds Bom. p. 391 ; id. Jour. Bom. N. H. Soc. vi, p. 153. 



Kaivdri, Kowar, Chota buza, H. ; Kala Kachiatora, Beng. ; Tati 

 Krmkaram, Tel.; Karupu Kotan, Tarn. (Cevlon) ; Rattu datuduwa, 

 Cing. 



Coloration. In breeding-plumage the crown is glossy purplish 

 red, changing to green ; remainder of the head brown, with purple 

 gloss ; neck all round, upper back, scapulars, and smaller wing- 

 coverts dark chestnut, breast and abdomen lighter chestnut ; rest 

 of plumage, including wings, tail, and under tail-coverts, black or 

 deep brown, richly glossed with bronze-green and purple or steel- 

 blue. 



In winter plumage the smaller wing-coverts and scapulars 

 resemble the rest of the upper plumage, and the head and neck 

 are blackish brown, streaked with white. 



Young birds resemble old birds in winter plumage, but have the 

 base of the neck and lower parts blackish brown. 



Bill dark livid brown ; facial skin livid, extending round the 

 eye ; irides brown, in some mottled with grey ; legs and feet 

 bronzed brown, bluish above the knee (Legge). 



Length 25 ; tail 4 : wing 11 ; tarsus 4; bill from gape 5' 25. 



Distribution. Widely spread through the warmer parts of the 

 world. Found in India, Ceylon, and Burma, but rare or unknown 

 throughout the drier hilly regions, and common only in well- 

 watered parts, especially where there are large marshes or tanks, 

 liare in Burma, though abundant in Manipur. In most parts of 

 India this Ibis is a cold-weather visitor only, but it breeds in Sind, 

 on the Eastern Nara, in large numbers, also in Ceylon, and 

 probably in other suitable places. 



Habits, &fc. The Grlossy Ibis is usually seen in India in large 

 flocks, frequenting marshes, tanks, paddy fields, the borders of 

 rivers, tidal creeks, or the sea-coast. Its food consists of insects, 

 Crustacea, mollusca, worms, &c. Mr. Doig found it breeding in Sind 

 in June, whilst in Ceylon Col. Legge and Mr. Parker took its nests 

 between November and February. The nest is the usual platform 

 of sticks on a tree, and the eggs are generally three in number, 

 and of a beautiful blue colour, and they measure about 2-01 by 

 1-40. This bird has a low call, and is said to be excellent eating. 



