THE STILT- WALKERS. 55 



performed in sweeps high up in the air, but when migrating at change of season, or wandering as they 

 often do in search of food, they usually arrange themselves in two lines, diverging from a leader. All 

 the various species are social in their habits, and live in company with many varieties of shore birds. 

 Even during the period of incubation the same disposition is manifest, the flocks keep together, 

 not only in their winter quarters, but throughout the breeding season ; some few species, however, 

 are exceptions to this rule, and separate in pairs whilst rearing their young. The nests are usually 

 placed upon trees growing in the water or on marshy ground, and are formed of twigs, fibres, blades 

 of grass, and similar materials ; it is not uncommon, however, for the breeding pair to avoid all labour 

 by taking possession of an empty nest. The eggs are from three to six in number, and have the shell 

 of uniform hue. It is uncertain whether both parents assist in the task of incubation ; they both, 

 however, testify great anxiety for their offspring, and tend them even long after they have joined 

 the rest of the flock. The young birds attain their full strength but slowly, and do not undertake 

 the cares of a family until they are two and in some instances three years old. 



The FALCINELS (Falanellus) constitute a group of the above birds, possessing a slender body, 

 moderately long neck, thin, curved, and long beak, medium-sized foot, and somewhat broad, rounded 

 wings, in which the second and third quills are the longest ; the tail is short, the plumage thick, and 

 the face bare. 



THE GLOSSY IBIS. 



The Glossy Ibis {Falcinellus igneus), a European representative of the above group, is of 

 a brownish red on the throat, breast, belly, legs, and upper portions of the wings. The crown of the 

 head is dark brown, shaded with red ; the back, tail, and quills are brown, with a green or violet 

 sheen. The eye is brown, the bare circles around it greenish grey ; the beak dull dark green, 

 and the foot greenish grey. During the winter the head and throat are black, and the feathers lower 

 down of a lighter shade, with white edges ; those on the upper part of the body exhibit a mixture 

 of copper-colour and green ; the under side is brownish. This species is from nineteen to twenty- 

 three inches long, and from thirty-five to thirty-eight broad ; the wing measures from thirteen to 

 fourteen inches, and the tail three inches and a half. 



The Glossy Ibis frequents the whole of Central Europe, a large portion of Asia, and Northern 

 Africa, and visits the central and western portions of the latter continent. During its migration, it 

 is met with in India in large numbers during cold weather, whilst in Egypt it remains throughout the 

 year. In Central Europe it arrives about the end of April, and leaves again from August to September. 

 It is reported to have even visited Great Britain. " The Ibis," says Montagu, " is adopted as part of 

 the arms of Liverpool, and formerly, if not at present, stood conspicuous on the Guildhall in golden 

 array. It was termed the ' Liver,' from which that flourishing town derived its name, and is now 

 standing on the spot where the ' Pool ' was, on the verge of which the Liver was killed." Aristotle 

 records that the Glossy Ibis, or Liver, was called " Leheras," or " Jeheras," by the ancient Egyptians. 



River-banks, edges of large tanks, djeels, swamps, and inundated paddy-fields, are the favourite 

 resorts of these birds, affording them a plentiful supply of the mussels, fish, small reptiles, and similar 

 fare, for which they wade deep into the water during the winter months ; whilst in summer, on the 

 contrary, they subsist principally upon larvae, worms, and insects of various kinds, seizing their prey 

 with great dexterity, even when upon the wing. They roost at night in beds of large reeds, and fly in 

 flocks, which move with remarkable regularity, and generally assume the form of a wedge. The loud 

 call of the Glossy Ibis is often uttered in flight and when alarmed. It is now fully ascertained that 

 these birds breed in Europe, and we have to thank Lobenstein for an account of their nests, as seen by 

 himself in the Donautieflander. These nests were situated in a reed-covered marsh, and placed on 



