IBISES. 169 



when the misty air and lurid sky, muttering 

 thunder, and angrily rolling billows, all give 

 evidence of its approach, he may be seen gal- 

 lantly awaiting the storm. Should he not be 

 able to force a passage against its fury, he keeps 

 his ground by ballancing himself in the air like 

 the hawk. For three successive springs the 

 plumage of this bird increases in beauty, the 

 green, purple, and bronze tints acquiring greater 

 distinctness. 



Another species of these birds is the Amer- 

 ican white pelican, so named by Audubon in 

 distinction to the white pehcan of Europe ; it 

 varies but slightly in 'its habits from the rest of 

 its tribe. 



Its snowy plumage, when unsoiled, as on 

 rising from the water, is extremely beautiful, as 

 well as its broadly expanded crest and eyes of 

 diamond brightness. 



America possesses a variety of the ibis in the 

 scarlet, the white, the brown, the glossy, and 

 the wood ibis. The latter frequents the banks 

 of forest pools, swamps, and the pine barrens. 

 In desolate recesses, where the abounding cy- 

 presses, hung with lichens, form a complete 

 labyrinth of shade, it is seen. In many re- 

 spects it resembles the pelican and vulture, as 

 in the greediness with which it feeds; after 



which it remains for hours in a state of reple- 

 15 



