,248 Zoologica : N. Y. Zoological Society. [I ; 12 



directions. This darkens and clouds the pink but does not 

 wholly obscure it. The legs now begin to brighten. 



In April the face and basal portion of the beak are scarlet, 

 and the chin swelling very large. The black, in some individu- 

 als, reaches the tip of the beak, in others remains as a very wide 

 band, occupying the middle third of the mandibles. The first of 

 June sees the height of nuptial development (Fig. 97, E). The 

 pure white birds show face and mandibles, legs and feet of 

 richest scarlet, the bill paling anteriorly and tipped or banded 

 with dusky. The cheeks protrude, the bluish white eyes stand 

 out in strong contrast against the surrounding scarlet. The 

 skin of the chin is produced into an inflatable sac which at mo- 

 ments of intense excitement protrudes like a rounded scarlet 

 bladder. After the eggs are laid, the coloring diminishes and 

 the chin pouch becomes reduced about half, or at least is seldom 

 swelled out to full size. The paling of the red in the mandible 

 throws the dark area into stronger contrast for a time, when 

 it too loses strength and fades. The females are less brilliant 

 and almost lack the chin swelling. 



For the notes on changes in the color of the beak of the 

 young Ibis I am indebted to Mr. Crandall, and for the loan of 

 skins to Dr. Dwight and Mr. Chapman. 



