BIRDS. 317 



Crane. Pliny has described a bird of the crane kind with a 

 topping resembling that of the green wood-pecker. This bird 

 for a long time continued unknown, till we became acquainted 

 with the birds of tropical climates, when one of the crane kind 



pans are also more contracted. M. Savigiiy has opened about twenty iiidi. 

 viduals of this species, and has found nothing- in their very narrow gizzard, 

 but small fliiviatile bhells, with some debris of vegetables, wliicli probably 

 enveloped the shells at the moment in which they were swallowed, and can- 

 not be considered as properly constituting any part of the aliment of these 

 birds. 



The two species have a powerful and elevated flight. In this action tne 

 neck and feet are extended horizontally, and from time to time, the birds, 

 all together, send forth deep and hoarse cries, more powerful in the white 

 ibis than in the black. When these birds alight on lands which they have 

 newly discovered, they remain crowded against each other, and may be 

 seen for entire hours, occupied in searching the mud with their bills, ad- 

 vancing slowly, step by step, and never springing with rapidity like the 

 curlews. The ibis does not nestle in Egypt, Those of the white kind ar- 

 rive as soon as the Nile begins to increase, and their number augments or 

 diminishes, as do its waters. Their migration takes place towards the end 

 of June, the epocha at which, according to Bruce, they arrive in Ethiopia. 

 The blatk ibis, which comes later into F.gypt, also remains there longer 

 The moment when the ibides retire with tlie watej-s of the Nile, is the time 

 in wliich the hunters prefer to pursue them. They seldom shoot them with 

 fire-arras, but lay nets for them; and during autumn, many, whose heads 

 have been previously severed from their bodies, are found in the markets of 

 Lower Egj'i)t, especially in that of Damietta. Many of the ibides, both 

 black and white, were brought alive to M. Savigny, who observed that they 

 moat IVefjuently held their body nearly horizontal, with the neck inflected, 

 and the head inclined — were in the habit of striking the earth with the end 

 of their bill, and sometimes resting on one foot only. The same naturalist 

 remarks, that the white ibis sometimes goes alone, and sometimes in small 

 troops of from eight to ten, while the black species, more numerous, forms 

 flocks of from thirty to forty. 



The Scarlet Ibis is a native of America. 'I'hese birds live almost always 

 in flocks, and the old ones most frequently form distinct and separate bands. 

 Their flight is rapid and sustained, but they do not put themselves in mo- 

 tion, except in the morning and evening, for the purpose of seeking their 

 food, which consists of insects, shell animals, and small fishes, collected in 

 the slime along the soa.coa.st, or at the months of rivers. During the great- 

 est heat of thi! day and at night, they r<'main iu sheltered places. Tin- 

 broods commence iu January, and are conclndcd in May. They (lei)osit their 

 eggs, which arc- greenish, in large tufts of grass, or oji little iiili-s collected 

 in the brush-wood. Tliei(! ibides are spread throughout the warmest 

 countries of America, and being not at all wild they are easily accustomed 

 to live in houses. M. de la Horde nn'Mtions his having kept one for more 

 than two years. It w;ls fed with. bread, raw or cooked meat, and fich ; but it 

 gave the preference to the entrails of fish and fowl. It would frequently oc- 

 cupy itself in seckiuff for carth-worras around the house, or following the 



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