THRESKIORNIS STEICTIPENNIS. 



(White Ibis.) 



Adult.— Head and down to the middle of the neck, quite bare, the skin being of a dull black color— the back of the head and neck have a 

 series of stripes of a maroon tint, the crown being also spotted with the same color ; general color of plumage, huffish white ; primaries, 

 tipped with greenish black, and several of the uppermost tertiaries for a considerable portion of their length are black— those immediately 

 underneath, gradually becoming white on the inner webs ; secondaries have black shafts and an oblong mark of black at the tips ; bill and 

 feet, blackish purple ; irides, brown. The sexes are alike in appearance, but the male is the largest. 



Young. — Head and neck thickly covered with small scaly feathers of various tints, as brownish black, grey, and white, giving 

 that portion of the bird a pied appearance ; the remainder of the plumage as in the adult. Frequently the bird when obtained is so much 

 soiled that it appears of a dirty grey tint. 



Length, 32 inches ; wing, 14^ ; tail, 6^ ; bill, 6| ; tarsus, 4. 



This large species is a periodical visitant to the settled districts of Australia. There can be no doubt that the remote interior 

 is its proper habitat, as its presence in the southern or eastern colonies is considered a sure indication of drought in that direction. Its 

 visits are made in company with the Straw-necked Ibis, which would seem to indicate that both come from the same quarter. The food of 

 the White Ibis consists of frogs, insects, etc., which it captures by wading among the rushes and acquatic plants which grow so luxuriantly in 

 swampy situations and on river banks. 



