]76 WHITE IBIS. 



breedino- there at a distance of more than three hundred miles from tlie 

 sea and remaining in the midst of the thickest forests until driven off to 

 warmer latitudes by the approach of winter. This is the case in the 

 State of Mississippi, not far from Natchez, and in all the swampy forests 

 around Bayou Sara and Pointe Coupee, as well as the interior of the 

 Floridas. When disturbed in such places, these Ibises fly at once to the 

 tops of the tallest trees, emitting their hoarse hunk, and watch your mo- 

 tions with so much care that it is extremely difficult to get within shot 

 of them. 



The manner in which this bird searches for its food is very curious. 

 The Woodcock and the Snipe, it is true, are probers as well as it, but 

 their task requires less ingenuity than is exercised by the White or the 

 Red Ibis. It is also true that the White Ibis frequently seizes on small 

 crabs, slugs and snails, and even at times on flying insects ; but its usual 

 mode of procuring food is a strong proof that cunning enters as a princi- 

 pal ingredient in its instinct. The Cray-fish often burrows to the depth 

 of three or four feet in dry weather, for before it can be comfortable it 

 must reach the water. This is generally the case during the prolonged 

 heats of summer, at which time the White Ibis is most pushed for food. 

 The bird, to procure the Cray-fish, walks with remarkable care towards 

 the mounds of mud which the latter throws up while forming its hole, and 

 breaks up the upper part of the fabric, dropping the fragments into the 

 deep cavity that has been made by the animal. Then the Ibis retires a 

 sino-le step, and patiently waits the result. The Cray-fish, incommoded 

 by the load of earth, instantly sets to work anew, and at last reaches the 

 entrance of its burrow ; but the moment it comes in sight, the Ibis seizes 

 it with his bill. 



Whilst at Indian Key, I observed an immense quantity of beautiful 

 tree snails, of a pyramidal or shortly conical form, some pure white, 

 others curiously marked with spiral lines of bright red, yellow and black. 

 They were crawling vigorously on every branch of each bush where 

 there was not a nest of the White Ibis ; but wherever that bird had 

 fixed its habitation, not a live snail was to be seen, although hundreds 

 lay dead beneath. Was this caused by the corrosive quality of the bird's 

 ordure ? 



There is a curious though not altogether general difference between 

 the sexes of this species as to the plumage : — the male has five of its 



