IBIDIDiE — THE IBISES — PI.KGADIS. 95 



[iriiiiarv-coverts, primaries, and lower secondaries brighter l)ronze-green ; upper secondaries more 

 lironzy, with a purjde shaile in certain lights. Under-surface of wings and tail more Imrnished, 

 metallic green, hrunze, and purple, the tint vaiying with the inclination to the lights ; axillars less 



shining, and more violaceous ; crissum violet-purple and green, like the rump. Bill black ; hare 

 loral space greeidsh ; legs and feet greenir-h blackish. i 



Young {chani/ifKj from first to second pluiivigi-): Head and neck distinctly streaked with dusky 

 brown and white, the dusky streaks wider and more blackish on the pileum, the whitish streaks 

 gradually becoming more indistinct below. Entire lower parts plain snuff-brown, with a soft 

 purplish tinge, especially on the breast and tiliiai ; crissum, metallic green and violet. U]iper parts 

 dark, metallic violet-purple, green, and bronze, the first largely predominating, the last in traces ; 

 the back darkest and most unil'orm, the rump interspersed with bright dark-green feathers. A 

 few dai'k chestnut feathers interspersed over the anterior jiortion of the lesser wing-covert region 

 (No. 570(13, Greece). Young {changing from second to third plumage) : In general appearance 

 much like the preceding, but breast, abdomen, and tibial mostly reddish chestnut, and the anterior 

 portion of the back and scapulars mixed with many feathers of the same color ; head and neck 

 niiieh tinged with chestnut, the streaks indistinct (No. 17493. 9, Hungary). 



[Note. — The Tantalus viridis of Gmklin (Syst. Nat. II. i. p. 648, no. 8, based on ('Imen Ibis 

 of L.\THAM, Synopsis, III. i. p. 114, no. 13) seems to be this species in incomplete first plumage, 

 or still retaining the downy covering of the head and neck.] 



Length, about 25 inches ; expanse, 42; wing, 10.20-11.85 ; tail, 4.30-4.50 ; culmen, 4.30-5.45; 

 depth of bill, .50-.60 ; tarsus, 2.90-4.30 ; nuddle toe, 2.10-2.80 ; bare portion of tibia, 1.70-3.10. 



Of this species, there are at present before us four adult specimens, two being from Europe and 

 two from America (Tortugas and Jamaica) ; between these there is not the slightest difference 

 whatever, beyond the individual discrepancies of size observable in all species of this family. 



The young of P. falcinellus closely resembles that of P. guarauna, but is rather darker colored, 

 the upper parts being much more violaceous, and the lower parts less grayish. There are two 

 specimens in the collection, — those described above. 



This species, identical with the well-known Bay or Glossy Ibis of Europe, oecnrs 

 irregularly in the eastern portion of the United States, and has been known to breed 

 in Florida. It has been found on several occasions as far north as Massachusetts, 

 although nowhere abundant in the States bordering upon the Atlantic. It was first 

 described as a bird of North America by Mr. George Ord, from a specimen obtained 

 at Great Egg Harbor, May 7, 1817. About the same time another specimen was pro- 

 cured near Baltimore, and two others were taken in the District of Columbia. 'Sly. 

 Audubon states that in the sjiriug of 1837 he saw flocks of this bird in Texas ; but 

 it is possible that the birds which he saw- there were not of this species. They were 

 apparently only summer residents, associating witli the AYliite Ibis, along the grassy 

 margins of the rivers and baynus. going to aitd I'eturning from their roosting-jjlaces in 

 the country. Its' flight resembles that of its companion, the "White Ibis. 



I Audubon says : " Bill black ; bare part of head grayish blue ; iris hazel ; feet grayish black, claws 

 brown." 



