Ei'Docmus. 151 



Bange in British Guiana. Beibice River (^McConnell colledioii) ; 

 Maccaseema (TF. L. Sdater') ; Mora passage {Beehe). 



E.vtralimital Range. Eastern and Northern Brazil, Venezuela, 

 and Margarita Island ; Greater Antilles ; occasional in Texas and 

 Florida. 



Habits. According to Scbomburgk (Reis. Guin. iii. p. 756) the 

 Scarlet Ibis is found all along the coast, more numerous at 

 the mouths of the oceanic rivers, where they appear in countless 

 numbers. It is ^Yell known that the young remain in the brown 

 plumage for three years, during which time they are kept away 

 from the birds in scarlet dress. At sunrise the flocks resort to 

 their feeding-grounds, and when flying arrange themselves side by 

 side — not as Geese and Cranes, behind each other. Lit up by the 

 morning sun the numerous rows of these beautiful birds afford a 

 a most wonderful sight. Each detachment of birds has its separate 

 area near the coast, and there on the low bushes they build their 

 nests; as a rule, several on each. They appear to use their nests 

 for several years in succession. They carry the food for the young- 

 ones in the same manner as Pelicans, and have, like them, a 

 pouch which is situated near the roof of the mouth, in which they 

 collect the food. When the parent birds arrive at the nest, they 

 open their mouths and the young help themselves. During the 

 breeding-season they wage a coniinuous war against the Small 

 Egret, driving them away and often take possession of their 

 nests. The young birds are easily tamed. The " Macusis " call 

 it Yumorih and the " Warraus^' Timiiku. 



Mr. C. A. Lloyd (Timehri (2) xi. p. 9) remarks on this species : — 

 "^ Mr. D. E. Mackintosh, who has paid much attention to the Coast 

 birds of Surinam, asserts that the Scarlet Ibis or (kirrie-C'urrie, 

 Eudonmus ruler, never builds a nest of any sort, Init takes forcible 

 possession of those of the small White Egret, Ardea candidissima, 

 for the purpose of depositing its eggs. He states that he has often 

 witnessed this Ibis in the act of tumbling the young Egrets out of 

 their nesls. . . . The eggs of the Scarlet Ibis are three in number 

 and very variable both in sliape and markings. Usually they are 

 spotted and slashed throughout with reddish-brown, but sometimes 

 the markings are tiiickly distributed towards the larger end, where 

 they often become confluent and form a large circular blotch. In 

 shajio, some of the eggs are markedly elongate and others <jnite 

 oval.^' 



Mr. J. J. Quelch records this species at Georgetown. 



