WOOD IBIS. 91 



great distance from it. They feed on serpents, young alligators, 

 frogs, and other reptiles,"* 



The figure of this bird given in the plate was drawn from a 

 very fine specimen, sent from Georgia by Stephen Elliott, esq. 

 of Beaufort, South Carolina ; its size and markings were as fol- 

 low. 



Length three feet two inches; bill nearly nine inches long, 

 straight for half its length, thence curving downwards to the 

 extremity, and full two inches thick at the base, where it rises 

 high in the head, the whole of a brownish horn colour; the un- 

 der mandible fits into the upper in its whole length, and both 

 are very sharp edged ; face and naked head and part of the neck 

 dull greenish blue, wrinkled; eye large, seated high in the head; 

 irides dark red; under the lower jaw is a loose corrugated skin, 

 or pouch, capable of containing about half a pint; whole body, 

 neck and lower parts white; quills dark glossy green and purple; 

 tail about two inches shorter than the wings, even at the end, 

 and of a deep and rich violet; legs and naked thighs dusky green; 

 feet and toes yellowish sprinkled with black; feet almost semi- 

 palmated and bordered to the claws with a narrow membrane; 

 some of the greater wing coverts are black at the root, and shaft- 

 ed with black; plumage on the upper ridge of the neck gener- 

 ally worn, as in the present specimen, with rubbing on the back, 

 while in its common position of resting its bill on its breast, in 

 the manner of the White Ibis (see fig. 3). 



The female has only the head and chin naked; both are sub- 

 ject to considerable changes of colour when young; the body 

 being found sometimes blackish above, the belly cinereous, and 

 spots of black on the wing coverts; all of which, as the birds 

 advance in age, gradually disappear, and leave the plumage of 

 the body, &c. as has been described. 



Travels, &c. p. 150. 



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