1877.] Mr. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE IBIDIN^. 509 



Eudocimus alba, Wagl. Isis (1832) p. 1232. 



Eudocimus longirostris, Wagl. Isis (1832) p. 1234. 



Leucibis alba, Reich. Nov. Syn. Av. pi. 141. fig. 526 (1851). 



Hab. Southern North America ; Central America ; Cuba. 



The white Ibis is found in Florida in great flocks ; and in the 

 places selected by these birds to breed, many thousands are some- 

 times congregated together. The nest, which is flat and composed 

 of sticks, is placed upon the fork of some branch ; and as many as 

 forty-seven, according to Audubon, have been seen on one tree. The 

 young fly in four or five weeks ; and as soon as they are able to take 

 care of themselves the old birds leave them. They feed on shell- 

 fish, slugs, snails, &c. When flying the species presents a beautiful 

 appearance, each member of the flock imitating exactly the move- 

 ments of the leader, as he proceeds with alternate flappings and 

 sailings. At times they mount upwards to a great height and per- 

 form various and graceful evolutions, showing to great advantage 

 with the sun shining upon their pure white plumage relieved only 

 by the jet-black tips of the primaries. 



Tips of primaries for about two inches black with bluish reflections, 

 entire rest of plumage pure white. Anterior half of head bare] 

 feathers reaching to about the middle of the eye, throat bare ; the 

 skin of these portions Hght red. Bill red, apical portion black. 

 Tarsi have the anterior half transversely scutellated, hind part 

 covered with hexagonal scales, and, with the feet, are red. 



Total length 29 inches; wing 11, tail 4|, bill along culmen 64, 

 tarsus 3|. Young :— Head and neck light brown, the feathers edged 

 with white. Wings, back and tail chocolate-brown. Entire under- 

 parts and rump white. Bill entirely red ; feet and legs flesh- 

 colour. 



25. Eudocimus ruber. 



Tantalus ruber, 'Lvan. Syst. Nat. (1/66) p. 241. sp. 5 ; Gmel 

 Syst. Nat. (1788) vol. i. p. 651. sp. 5; Lath. Ind. Orn. (1790) vol.' 

 ii. p. 703. sp. 2 ; Wils. Am. Ornith. (1814) vol. viii. pi. 66 ; Cuv 

 Regn. Anim. (1829) p. 520; Less. Trait. Ornith. (1831) d. 567* 

 sp. 3 ; Bon. Wils. Am. Orn. (1832) vol. iii. p. 63, pi. Ixvi. fig. 2. 



Tantalus minutus, Linn. Syst. Nat. (1766) p. 241. sp. 3 ; Gmel 

 Syst. Nat. (1788) p. 650. sp. 3; Lath. Ind. Orn. (1790) vol. ii. p'. 

 7U8. sp. 19 ; Vieill. Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat. (1817) vol. xvi. p 23- 

 id. Ency. Me'th. (1823) tom. iii. p. 1151. 



Tantalus fuscus, Linn. Syst. Nat. (1766) p. 242. sp. 7, juv. • 

 Gmel. Syst. Av. (1788) p. 651. sp. 7, juv. ; Lath. Ind. Orn. (1790) 

 p. 705. sp. 8. 



Courly rouge de Bresil, Buff. PI. Enl. no. 80, juv., 81, ad. 



Brown Ibis, Lath. Gen. Syn. (1783) vol. iii. p. ] 10. sp. 8. 



Lesser Ibis, Lath. Gen. Syn. (1783) vol. iii. p. 117. sp. 18. 



Ibis rubra, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat. (1817) vol. xvi. p 22 • id 

 Ency. Meth. (1823) tom. iii. p. 1 150 ; Wagl. Syst. Av. (1827) sp! 4 •" 

 Nutt. Orn. U. S. (1834) vol. ii. p. 84 ; Aud. B. Amer. 8vo ed'. 

 (1842) vol. vi. pi. 359, p. 53; id. Orn. Biog. vol. v. p. 62 ■ G R 



