56 GRALLATORES. IBIS. Ibis. 
thrown out this hint for the consideration of others who 
may enjoy more fortunate means of comparison. Species of 
this genus are found in all the four quarters of the globe 
and many of them have a very extensive geographic range ; 
none more so than the species included in the list of our 
Fauna as an occasional, but rare, visitant, the Glossy or Bay 
Ibis. Birds of this genus inhabit the borders of lakes and 
rivers, and resort to such countries as are subject to periodi- 
cal inundations. They feed on worms, insects, and mollus- 
cous animals, and some of the species feed much upon vege- 
tables, particularly the roots of bulbous plants. They con- 
gregate and live in societies, and in most countries are perio- 
dically migratory, performing their journeys in numerous 
flocks. Their moulting is simple. The young of many 
species differ greatly from the adult birds in colour of plu- 
mage, and only acquire the dress of maturity after the third 
moulting ; the consequence of which has been considerable 
difficulty in discriminating their proper station, and, in some 
cases, an unnecessary multiplication of specific synonyms. 
A peculiar metallic lustre on the wings and tail distinguishes 
most of the species; and some have the barbs of the tertiary 
and secondary wing feathers long and decomposed. 
GLOSSY IBIS. 
Iprs Fatcrnettus, Temm. 
PLATE XII. 
Ibis Falcinellus, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. 2. 598.—Wagler, Syst. Av. 1. sp. 1. 
—Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 102. 
Ibis ignea, Steph. Shaw’s Zool. 12. 13. 
Tantalus Falcinellus, Linn. 1. 241. 2.—Gmel. Syst. 1. 648.—Lath. Ind. 
Ornith. 2. 707. 14. 
Falcinellus, Rati Syn. 103. 3.—Will. 218. 54,—Ib. (Angl.) 295, 54. 
Numenius viridis, Briss. 5. 326. 4. 
Le Courlis vert, Buff: Ois. 8. 27. 
Bay Ibis, Lath. Syn. 5. 113. 12.—Arct. Zool, 2. 460. A. 
