GRAY WINGS 



227 



The scarlet ibis of the tropics and the black- 

 and-white ibis of Egj^pt, though not classed 

 with the flamingoes, have similar habits if not 

 similar equipments. By the Egyptians the ibis 

 was held sacred because of its purity, and 

 by the Hebrews it was thought "unclean"; 

 but at the present day neither belief ob- 

 tains, and many of the irreverent or unthink- 

 ing eat the bird for a stork as opportunity 

 offers. 



The storks often travel far inland and yet 

 are also found along the coast. Like the herons 

 and bitterns they are eaters of the small fry 

 of the sea, waders of the pools and marshes, 

 people of long necks, legs, and bills. They are 

 somewhat awkward as they move along the 

 shore, and not too graceful when they fly; but 

 they are not wanting in skillful handling of the 

 neck and the bill. With them moving up and 

 down the coasts at stated seasons in great Y- 

 shaped flocks are the cranes, perhaps the largest 

 of all the waders. They, too, often go far in- 

 land; but with the storks and the herons they 

 are essentially water birds and consider the 

 shore their habitat. There they feed and there 

 at odd seasons they indulge in strange dances, 

 processions and races — antics more astonishing 

 than a ^loqui snake dance — accompanied by 



The scarlet 



ibis. 



Storks 



Dancing 

 cranes. 



