350 VERTEBRATA. AVES. 



species, the Roseate Spoonbill (P. Ajaja*) inhabits 

 the shores of tropical America ; its hue is pale rosy, 

 enlivened with deep rich crimson. 



Ibis^ the Ibis. 



An object of religious veneration among the an- 

 cient Egyptians, we find the form of the Ibis re- 

 curring on their astonishing monuments at every 

 turn, and multitudes of the birds are discovered as 

 embalmed mummies. It is, however, a remarkable 

 fact, that only within a few years has this ancient 

 and celebrated bird been identified with any living 

 species, though it is still common in its original 

 country. The Ibis Religiosa much resembles the 

 Curlews, the bill being long and curved, but rather 

 stouter than in that genus. America produces a 

 splendid species, the Scarlet Ibis, (/. Ruhr a,} en- 

 tirely scarlet, except the tips of the wings, which 

 are black ; and Steedman says of a South African 

 species, "I succeeded in shooting a very fine 

 specimen of the Bald Ibis, (J. Calva,} of which vast 

 numbers appeared to be building their nests in the 

 clefts of the rocks. The bird is about the size of 

 the /. Religiosa [or of the common Curlew] ; its 

 colour is a dark bright green, having on its wings 

 a rich velvet patch of gold-coloured feathers. The 

 legs and head are entirely bare, of the most beauti- 

 ful vermilion, and contrasting beautifully with its 



* Probably the native name of the bird, 

 t Its ancient Greek, or Egyptian, name. 



