FAMILY XIX. 



TALC ATI, ILLIGER. 



GENUS XLVI. TAXTALUS. 



212. TJXTALUS LOCULATOR, LINN^US AND WILSON WOOD IBIS. 



KILSON, PLATE LXVI. FIG. I. EDINBURGH COLLEGE Ml'srTM. 



THE wood ibis inhabits the lower parts of Louisiana, 

 Carolina, and Georgia ; is very common in Florida, and 

 extends as far south as Cayenne, Brazil, and various 

 parts of South America. In the United States it is 

 migratory ; but has never, to my knowledge, been found 

 to the north of Virginia. Its favourite haunts are 

 watery savannahs and inland swamps, where it feeds on 

 fish and reptiles. The French inhabitants of Louisiana 

 esteem it good eating. 



With the particular manners of this species I am not 

 personally acquainted ; but the following characteristic 

 traits are given of it by Mr William Bartram, who had 

 the best opportunities of noting them. 



" This solitary bird," he observes, " does not associate 

 in flocks, but is generally seen alone, commonly near 

 the banks of great rivers, in vast marshes or meadows, 

 especially such as are covered by inundations, and also 

 in the vast deserted rice plantations ; he stands alone, 

 on the topmost limb of tall dead cypress trees, his nerk 

 contracted or drawn in upon his shoulders, and his 

 beak resting like a long scythe upon his breast ; in 

 this pensive posture, and solitary situation, they look 

 extremely grave, sorrowful, and melancholy, as if in 

 the deepest thought. They are never seen on the sea 

 coast, and yet are never found at a great distance from 

 it. They feed on serpents, young alligators, frogs, and 

 other reptiles."* 



* Travels, &c. p. 150. 



