92 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 



silent. Their fiiglit is described as being rapid and protracted ; the advance being 

 made by alternate flapping and sailing. In these movements the flock imitate the 

 leader, each individual following with perfect regularity the motions of the one pre- 

 ceding it. If at this time one is shot, the whole line is broken up, and for a few 

 minutes all is disorder ; but soon the fornrer arrangement is resumed, and the flock 

 goes on as before. 



A wounded Ibis, if only winged, runs off with great speed ; but it never attempts 

 to bite or otherwise to defend itself. At other times than the breeding season this 

 bird will perform wonderful evolutions, in the course of which it sometimes rises to 

 a great height in the air. After thus apparently amusing itself for a while, it will 

 suddenly glide down with astonishing speed. It is apparently as fond as the Wood 

 Ibis of resorting to ponds or bayous that are in the woods ; and Mr. Audubon has 

 found it In-eeding in such situations more than three hundred miles from the sea. 

 This was the case in the State of ^Mississippi, not far from ^Natchez, and in the 

 swampy forests around Bayou Sara and Poiute Coupee. When disturbed in these 

 places it flies to the tops of the tallest trees, uttering a hoarse cry, and is usually 

 very shy and difficult of approach. When a wounded Ibis falls into the water, it 

 can swim quite well ; but it is unusual for it to do this voluntarily, even to avoid 

 pursuit. Auduljon ^^•itnessed the escape of one by swimming when chased by an 

 alligator. The bird had fallen broken-winged into the water, and sought protection 

 by hastening to his feet. He kept it alive for some time, feeding it with soaked 

 Indian meal and an occasional crayfish, which latter it received with evident pleas- 

 ure. On seizing one, the bird beat it sideways on the ground until its claws and 

 legs were broken ott', after which the body Avas swallowed whole. This liird was 

 very fond of lying on its side in the sun and nursing its sore wing. It walked 

 lightly and very gracefully, and became very gentle and tame, following, like a com- 

 mon fowl, those who fed it. 



Mr. Lawrence considers this bird as a rare species near New York ; Mr. Edward 

 Harris procured it on the Delaware, near I'hiladelphia; and Mr. Turnbull shot one 

 at Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey, in the summer of 1858. It is rare so far north. 

 Dr. Bryaiit found it very numerous at Indian Eiver, Florida. Specimens shot April 

 20 were still in the spring moult. Mr. Turnbull saw a large flock of these birds on 

 the St. John's, near Volusia, but none at Enterprise. 



The eggs are of an oblong-oval shape, a little larger and more obtuse at one end, 

 and vary chiefly in size, ranging in length from 2.20 to 2.45 inches, and in breadth 

 from 1.55 to 1.60 inches. Their ground color is a dull clayey white with a greenish 

 tinge, over which are distributed spots, blotches, and longitudinal markings of various 

 shades of reddish brown. In some cases these are few, and scattered over most of 

 the egg, but increasing in size or confluent towards the larger end. In others, these 

 markings are distributed in large and more or less confluent patches over nearly the 

 entire surface. In some eggs the greenish tinge of the ground is much more apjiar- 

 ent than in others, luit it is always more or less noticeable. 



Genus PLEGADIS, Kaup. 



" Fakindhis, Bechst." Auct. (uec Bechstei.v i). 



Plegadix, K.iUP, Skizz. Entw. Gesch. 1829, 82 (type, Tantnhis faMnellus, LiNN.). 



Tantalidcs, Wagl. Isis, 1832, 12-31 (type, Tantalus faJcincllns, LiXN.). 



• Cf. S.iLV. & Sci,. Ibis, Jan. 1878, p. 112. 



