346 THE SACRED IBIS SCARLET IBIS AVOCET. 



THE SACRED IBIS. 



The Sacred Ibis inhabits Egypt, but does not seem to breed there. 

 This is the bird so frequently depicted in the hieroglyphics as playing 

 ft conspicuous part in religious ceremonies. Their mummies are con 

 stantly found in the tombs, and in one of these mummies Cuvier dis- 

 covered remnants of skin, and scales of snakes. Tt is a migratory 

 bird, appearing simultaneously with the rise of the Nile, and depart- 

 ing as the inundation subsides. The Sacred Ibis is about the size of 

 an ordinary fowl. 



THE SCARLET IBIS. 



This brilliant and exclusively American species inhabits chiefly 

 within the tropics, abounding in the West India and Bahama Islands, 

 and south of the equator, at least, as far as Brazil. In the adult bird 

 the plumage is of a uniform bright scarlet, only varied by the blackish 

 brown on the outer web and tips of the quills. The length is twenty- 

 four inches, the wing measures ten inches and the tail three inches. 

 The flight of this Ibis is lofty and strong, and it utters a loud and 

 peculiar cry as it passes through the air. They migrate in the summer 

 (about July and August), into the States of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, 

 and South Carolina ; but retire into Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands, 

 at the approach of cool weather. They generally associate in num- 

 bers, frequenting the borders of the sea, and the banks and estuaries 

 of neighboring rivers, feeding on small fry, shell-fish, Crustacea, 

 worms, and insects, which they collect at the ebbing of the tide. 

 They are said to be in the habit of perching on trees in companies ; 

 but lay their eggs, which are greenish, on the ground, amidst the tall 

 grass of the marshes, on a slight nest of leaves. When just hatched the 

 young are black, soon changing to gray, but are nearly white before 

 they are able to fly; by degrees they attain their red plumage, which 

 is not complete until the third year. The young and old associate 

 in distinct bands. In the countries where they abound they are 

 sometimes domesticated, and accompany the poultry. The Ibia 

 shows great courage in attacking the fowls, and will even defend 

 itself from the insidious attacks of the cat. It is generally esteemed 

 aa good food ; and its rich and gaudy plumage is used by the Brazil- 

 ians for various ornaments. 



THE AVOCET. 



The bill in the enus Recurvirostra is exactly the reverse of that in 

 the genus Cracticornis, the curve being upwards instead of down- 

 wards. The common Avocet is spread throughout the warmer 

 regions of Europe, and is also found in some parts of Africa. It ia 

 common in Holland, and is frequently seen on the eastern coasts 



