GLOSSY IBIS — STORKS AND SPOONBILL 



75 



Glossy Ibis. 



Another swamp-bird of the region is the glossy ibis {Plegadis 

 falcinellus), which, as regards habits, resembles partly the phalaropes, 

 and partly the herons and storks. It has a light, measured, striding walk, wades 

 in mud and water, and swims in case of need. This bird inhabits the south of 

 Europe but is really cosmopolitan in distribution, being found not only in Asia and 

 Africa but in Australia and North America. In Europe it is common round the 

 Black Sea, in the delta and plains of the Danube, in southern Russia and southern 



SPOOXBILLS. 



Poland, while it occurs in Italy, southern France, and Spain. Though rare north 

 of the Alps, it is known as a straggler in Britain, the Faroes, Iceland, and 

 Scandinavia. It is 22 inches long, and bronzy in plumage with metallic re-' 

 flections, blackish above and brownish below. 



storks and Both kinds of European stork are known in south-western Asia 



Spoonbill, mainly as migratory birds, although they breed now and then where 



the climate and conditions are favourable. The spoonbills in many of their habits 



