140 IBIDIN^E. IBIS. 



muscular coat very thick, the lateral muscles being distinct, 

 the epithelium dense, thick, and longitudinally rugous ; in- 

 testine rather long, of moderate width ; coeca very small, 

 cylindrical ; cloaca globular. Nostrils linear or oblong, sub- 

 basal, in the fore part of the narrow bare basal membrane. 

 Eyes rather small. Aperture of ear very small. Legs long, 

 and rather slender ; tibia bare for a considerable space, and 

 reticulated ; tarsus rather long, reticulate in the larger spe- 

 cies, scutellate in the smaller, or partially reticulate and 

 scutellate ; toes four, rather long, moderately stout, the first 

 large, and articulated on the same plane ; all scutellate in 

 their whole length, flattened beneath, the anterior webbed 

 at the base ; claws short or moderate, slender, compressed, 

 arched, acute. Head partially or entirely bare ; plumage 

 moderate ; wings large, of about twenty-five quills, the third 

 generally longest, some of the inner secondaries elongated ; 

 tail short, or moderate, even or rounded, of twelve broad 

 feathers. 



The sexes are alike in colour, the female smaller ; the 

 young differently coloured, and with the head feathered. 

 These birds belong to the tropical regions of both continents, 

 some migrating into the colder. They resemble the Herons 

 in their modes of walking and flying. 



229. IBIS FALCINELLUS. GLOSSY IBIS. 



Head feathered, excepting the loral spaces. Adult with 

 the feathers of the head and neck lanceolate and glossy ; the 

 neck, breast, and fore part of the back deep chestnut- red; the 

 hind part of the back, wings, and tail green, glossed with 

 bronze and purple ; the plumage in general with silky lustre. 

 Young with the feathers of the head and neck oblong, soft, 

 without gloss, each with two marginal white streaks; the 

 lower parts deep dull brown, the upper glossy green, tingec 

 with bronze and purple. 



Male, 24, . ., 11^, 5, 3 A, 2 A, T V 



Dispersed from India and Egypt to Siberia and the northern 

 parts of Europe, and occurring in America. Like the White 

 Ibis, it was held in veneration by the ancient Egyptians, and is 

 not unfrequently found preserved in their sepulchres. It was 

 distinguished from that bird by the name of Black Ibis. It 

 is one of the species that approach nearest in form to the 



