SCARLET IBIS. 63 



sides by a deep narrow groove, the edges inflected and sharp. Nostrils 

 basal, dorsal linear, direct. Lower mandible nearly equal to the upper, 

 narrower toward the end, its angle long, very narrow, and protracted in 

 the form of a groove to the tip, the dorsal line decurved, the sides erect 

 on the crura, convex toward the end, the edges sharp but strong, like 

 those of the upper. 



Head small, compressed ; neck long and slender ; body rather full, 

 deeper than broad. Feet very long, stout ; tibias bare about a third of 

 their length, and covered all round with hexagonal scales ; tarsi long, 

 moderately compressed ; anteriorly covered with numerous broad scu- 

 tella, the rest with hexagonal scales, toes long, the first small and slen- 

 der, the third longest, the fourth considerably shorter, the second shorter 

 than the fourth, all covered above with numerous scutella, laterally with 

 angular scales, beneath flattened, with thick soft margins ; the anterior 

 connected at the base by membranes, of which the outer is larger ; claws 

 small, arched, compressed, obtuse, that of the middle toe with a sharp 

 thin edge. 



Anterior part of the forehead, sides of the head to beyond the eyes, 

 skin at the base of the lower mandible, and the upper part of the throat 

 bare. Plumage in general soft, rather blended ; the feathers of the 

 head and neck narrow, of the other parts ovate. Wings long, ample ; 

 primaries very strong, the third longest, the fotirth longer than the se- 

 cond, the first longer than the fifth ; secondaries broad and rounded. 

 Tail short, arched, nearly even, of twelve rounded feathers. 



Bill, feet, and bare parts of the head, pale lake. Iris yellow. The 

 plumage is of a nearly uniform bright scarlet, excepting the shafts of 

 the quills and tail-feathers, which are white, and the terminal portion 

 of the outer four primaries, which are bluish-black. 



Length to end of tail 29 inches ; bill along the ridge 6g ; along the 

 edge of lower mandible 6^ ; wing from flexure llj ; tail 3y*2 ; bare 

 part of tibia 1^| ; tarsus S^^j ; hind toe l^^i its claw 1^2 ; second toe 1^^, 

 its claw ^% ; third toe ||, its claw^'V ; fourth toe 2^^, its claw i^. 



Young assuming the plumage of the adult. Plate CCCXCVIL 



In its first plumage the young has the bill and feet brownish-grey, 



the bare parts of the head pale flesh-colour ; the plumage of the head, 



neck, and upper parts of a uniform brownish-grey ; that of the lower 



white ; the quills and tail-feathers dusky. 



Individuals of this species diflFer much in size. 



