CRANES. 211 



170. WOOD IBIS. 



Large, 43; bill, strongly curved; white, 

 primaries tail, bill and legs, black; feet, 

 yellow; naked head and upper neck, blackish 

 covered with whitish scales. Young, head 

 and neck feathered, dull brown throughout. 

 Cries, harsh and discordant. Head, neck 

 and legs outstretched in flight, fig. 156; 

 wing-beats slow, frequently rises high in air 

 to cricle about. Social, nesting in com- 

 munities in high trees; nests composed of 

 sticks; eggs, 1-2, chalky-white. Frequents 

 ponds in swamps and pine woods, in summer; 

 in winter more in thick swamps, southern 

 U. S., north to the Ohio Valley, south to 

 the Argentine Republic. 



CRANES. 



Our species differ from last in having 

 hind toe elevated, thus cannot perch on 

 trees; front of head only destitute of feathers. 

 Nests placed on ground in fresh marshes, 

 eggs 1-3, yellowish-brown. Young leave 



