WHITE IBIS. 95 



cessant. My venerable friend, in his observations on these birds 

 adds, "It is a pleasing sight at times of high winds, and heavy 

 thunder storms, to observe the numerous squadrons of these 

 Spanish Curlews, driving to and fro, turning and tacking about 

 high up in the air, when by their various evolutions in the 

 different and opposite currents of the wind, high in the clouds 

 their silvery white plumage gleams and sparkles like the bright- 

 est crystal, reflecting the sunbeams that dart upon them between 

 the dark clouds." 



The White Ibis is twenty -three inches long, and thirty-seven 

 inches in extent; bill formed exactly like that of the scarlet 

 species, of a pale red, blackish towards the point; face a reddish 

 flesh colour and finely wrinkled; irides whitish; whole plumage 

 pure white, except about four inches of the tips of the four 

 outer quill feathers, which are of a deep and glossy steel blue; 

 legs and feet pale red, webbed to the first joint. 



These birds I frequently observed standing on the dead limbs 

 of trees, and on the shore, resting on one leg, their body in an 

 almost perpendicular position, as represented in the figure, the 

 head and bill resting on the breast. This appears to be its most 

 common mode of resting, and perhaps sleeping, as in all those 

 which I examined the plumage on the upper ridge of the neck 

 and upper part of the back, was evidently worn by this habit. 

 The same is equally observable on the neck and back of the 

 Wood Ibis. 



The present species rarely extends its visits north of Carolina, 

 and even in that state is only seen for a few weeks towards the 

 end of summer. In Florida they are common; but seldom remove 

 to any great distance from the sea. 



