GLOSSY IBIS 45 



1818, when Thompson states that Ibises were killed in 

 Wexford, while as recently as October, 1902, others were 

 procured from cos. Clare and Wexford (E. Williams, ' Irish 

 Naturalist,' 1903, p. 112). Prior to these occurrences, no 

 Glossy Ibis was recorded from Ireland since those men- 

 tioned by Sir K. Payne- Gall wey in ' The Fowler in Ireland,' 

 published in 1882. 



The following are the counties where specimens have 

 been taken : Clare, Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Wexford, 

 Dublin, King's County, Westmeath, Longford, Antrim. 



The Ibis, though shaped like the Curlew and possessing 

 a long, slender, decurved beak, has no affinities with that 

 bird, being really related to the Storks and Spoonbills. 



Flight. On the wing the Glossy Ibis is strong, and as it 

 flies, "the pinions are first moved rapidly, and produce a 

 whizzing sound, after which the bird skims for some 

 distance " (Saunders). 



Food. When sojourning in our Isles, this species feeds 

 on such small creatures as are found about sandy shores 

 and muddy esturine flats, e.g., sand-eels, crabs, shrimps, 

 worms, etc. : in warmer countries locusts and other insects, 

 also scorpions, are eaten. 



Nest. In the breeding-season the Glossy Ibis is gre- 

 garious. The nest, made of twigs and reeds, is built in 

 trees and low bushes, and generally near marshes and water. 

 The eggs, three to four, are dark greenish-blue, and the 

 shell is slightly pitted. 



Geographical distribution. The breeding-range of the 

 Glossy Ibis in Europe extends from Spain to the Caspian 

 Sea, and its most northern colonies are in Slavonia. It 

 is found over a large area of Asia, breeding as far south 

 as Ceylon. It also nests in North Africa, migrating to 

 Natal. On the northern migration few birds proceed north 

 of the Alpine ranges, though stragglers have been obtained 

 from the Faroes, Iceland, Scandinavia, Denmark, Norway 

 and Sweden. In winter this species roams to Australia and 

 South Africa. 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. Head, neck, breast 

 and abdomen, dark reddish-brown ; back, wings, and tail, 

 brownish-black with a lustre of green and purple. 



