610 GLOSSY IBIS. 
convex, the edges sharp, but strong and closely approximated, bear- 
ing only a very narrow groove between them. 
Head small, compressed, oblong; neck long and slender; body 
slender, deeper than broad ; wings rather large. Feet very long, slen- 
der ; tibia long, bare about half its length, and covered all round with 
hexagonal scales; tarsi long, slender, anteriorly covered with nume- 
rous broad scutella, laterally with angular scales, beneath flattened, 
with thick soft margins; the anterior connected at the base by mem- 
branes, of which the outer is large ; claws rather small, slightly arched, 
compressed, tapering, pointed, that of the middle toe with a sharp thin 
edge. 
There is a bare space margining the forehead, occupying the part 
before the eye, and extending a little beyond it. Feathers of the head 
and neck slender lanceolate ; those of the former glossy and compact, 
of the latter blended, as are those of the breast and abdomen, which 
are ovate. The upper parts highly glossed, with silky lustre, the feathers 
generally ovate and rounded. Wings long, ample, the first primary a 
quarter of an inch shorter than the second, which is two-twelfths longer 
than the third, the rest moderately graduated ; the first sinuate on the 
inner web near the end, the second less deeply so; some of the inner 
secondaries elongated, but rounded, and when the wing is closed an 
inch and ten-twelfths shorter than the longest primary. ‘Tail short, 
very slightly emarginate, of twelve rounded feathers. 
Bill black; bare part of the head greyish-blue ; iris hazel; feet 
greyish-black, claws brown. The upper part and sides of the head are 
dark glossy, with purplish reflections. The neck, a portion of the back 
anteriorly, the breast, abdomen, and legs, are of a deep rich brownish- 
red or dark chestnut; part of the breast shaded with green, the sides 
dusky tinged with green, as are the lower wing-coverts, and lower tail- 
coverts. Excepting the anterior edge of the wing, and the anterior 
scapulars, which are deep glossy brownish-red, the upper parts are 
splendent dark green, glossed with purple ; the primaries black, shaded 
with green ; the tail glossy with purple reflections. 
Length to end of tail 25 inches; to end of claws 303; bill along 
the ridge 5,4,, along the edge of lower mandible 5,4; wing from flexure 
111; tail 44; bare part of tibia 2}; hind toe 175, its claw #4 ; second 
toe 133, its claw $$; third toe 2;%, its claw yy; fourth toe 2,4, its 
claw 32. 
