SENNETT ON BIRDS OF THE RIO GRANDE OP TEXAS. 57 



launching into the air with flapping wings, legs, and necks. The Ibis 

 alone was shy, and kept at a respectful distance. Along with it, and in 

 about equal numbers, were Ardca egretta, Great White Egret; Ardea 

 candidissima, Little W hite Egret ; and Ardea var. lencoprymna^ Louisiana 

 Heron ; besides not a few Nyctiardea var. ncevia, Night Heron. All of 

 these were here nesting indiscriminately. After shooting a few birds, I 

 soon found that the Ibis eggs resembled none of the others. Its nest 

 differs considerably from those of the Herons nesting near, although 

 built of the same material. It is built of dead rushes twined about 

 broken-down and upright living ones, and is more elaborately and 

 strongly woven, and is deeper than the others. Its shape is not unlike 

 that of a Grackle's nest. Its outside is about a foot in diameter and 

 eight or ten inches deep, and inside six or eight inches wide by three or 

 four inches deep. Its height from the water varied from two to four 

 feet. There is greater variation in the season for breeding with this 

 species than with the Herons. I found larger younger birds, and fresher 

 eggs. The season for fresh eggs, however, was drawing to a close, for 

 few indeed were the nests found containing one or no egg. Unlike the 

 Herone, too, the whole clutch would be hatched at nearly the same 

 time; i. e., the eggs of the clutch would be more equally advanced, and 

 the young nearly of a size. I found young in all stages, from those just 

 out of the egg to those half-grown and about ready to leave the nest. 

 The latter, at our near approach, would scramble out of the nests and 

 into the water, and a tough chase we would have in the tangled reeds 

 to catch them. The young, as it leaves the egg, is covered with black 

 down, with a white patch on the head ; its legs and bill are pink, the 

 latter decurved, and with two black bands. As it grows, the quills and 

 feathers show, from their start, the metallic hues, and when half-grown, 

 it is of the richest deep green. Neither old nor young make any noise 

 or resistance when captured.* 



Eggs were found in all stages of incubation. The proportion of eggs 

 with young was largely in excess of the fresh ones, yet I found enough 

 of the latter. I could tell them by the color — the fresher the egg the 

 deeper the green. It would not be exaggeration to say that I could 

 have gathered bushels of eggs and hundreds of young of this species 

 alone. The farther we penetrated into the rushes, the more abundant 

 were the nests. Such a haul was only equalled on the very next day, 

 May 16th, when Dr. Merrill accompanied us, and we were among these 

 beautiful Ibises nearly the whole day. Here, too, other birds, of which 

 notice will be taken farther on, were found breeding. In this heronry 

 and marsh, we worked long and faithfully, hardly knowing what we 

 would not find breeding in it. It was near night both days before I left 



* [Mr. Sennett's beautifully prepared and high-plumaged specimens show very clearly 

 the specific distinction from the common Bay or Glossy Ibis, Falcinellus igncus of 

 authors. The young birds are entirely green, and represent the supposed species, Fal- 

 cinellus thalassinus of Mr. Eidg-svay, who informs me that he some time since arrived at 

 this determination. — E. C.l 



