TANTALUS LEUCOCEPHALUS. 1101 



and tail-feathers black, with a strong greenish lustre : breast greyish, paling into white on the lower parts ; under 

 and upper tail-coverts white ; under wing-coverts along the edge of the wing tipped with reddish white. 

 The adult plumage is apparently put on at the next moult. 



Distribution. — This fine bird, a giant among Ibises, is tolerably common in many parts of the northern 

 half of the island, and is decidedly numerous on the south-east coast from the southern parts of the Batticaloa 

 district down to Hambantota. I met with large flocks in the Mag-am Pattuwa near Tissa Maha Rama , and 

 Mr. Bligh saw great numbers in the Yala district in the early part of last year. It collects in large numbers 

 at Kanthelai and Minery tanks during the south-west monsoon, and is, I understand, common in the Mul- 

 laittivu district and at Padewiya tank. In the immediate neighbourhood of Trincomalie I rarely saw it. It is 

 not uncommon in the direction of Puttalam, and, I apprehend, breeds at Nikaweratiya tank. It is not found 

 on the west coast south of Chilaw, nor does it extend westward of Tangalla, except perhaps as a straggler. 



In India the Pelican-Ibis is very abundant in some parts of the empire. It appears to be particularly 

 common in portions of the Deccan (Ahniednagar, &c), where it breeds in large numbers in the middle of 

 certain villages ; in other districts of this region, however, it is only sparingly distributed. In Chota Nagpur 

 it is rare ; Mr. Ball procured it on the Koel river, and records it from Lohardugga, Raipur, Jaipur, and 

 Bustar. Throughout Bengal and the North-west Provinces it is pretty well distributed, but appears to become 

 rarer towards the north-west, although it occurs in the Sambhur-Lake district, Guzerat, Cutch, and breeds 

 in Western Sindh on the eastern Narra. In the Punjab, according to Mr. Hume, it does not occur. 

 Turning eastwards, we find it rare in the immediate vicinity of Calcutta ; nor is it common in Furreedpore, 

 though a rainy-season visitant. I do not find it recorded from Upper Pegu nor from the Irrawaddy delta; 

 but in Tenasserim proper Captain Wardlaw Ramsay met with it at Tonghoo, Mr. Davison at Tavoy, Captain 

 Beavan in large numbers at Thatone creek ; and elsewhere it has been procured on the Pakchan. It does not 

 extend further south into the peninsula, being there replaced by the closely-allied species T. lacteus. 



Habits. — The Pelican-Ibis frequents the edges of tanks, rivers, and salt lagoons ; it is frequently seen 

 alone and often in small parties of half a dozen or even less ; now and then, however, in a favourable district 

 on the borders of some fine tank or brackish lagoon, where there is an abundance of food, one sees a large 

 flock assembled, which present a very handsome appearance, their glossy white plumage and red tertials 

 showing to advantage in the glaring sun. Its great length of leg enables it to walk in deep water, where it 

 succeeds in catching comparatively large fish, which it bolts with the greatest ease. Those who have observed 

 it closely say that it stalks about with its bill in the water and held partially open, so as to seize its prey with 

 the greater rapidity. Blyth has noticed it feeling about in the sand with its foot for any thing that may be 

 moving, thrusting its leg forward for the purpose. Its flight is somewhat peculiar ; it often makes a few 

 rapid strokes of its long wings, and then sails on an immense distance with motionless pinions ; at other times 

 it proceeds forward with regular beats and at a considerable speed, its long red legs stretched out behind being 

 very conspicuous. It soars round and round like the Shell-Ibis, mounting to a great height. It is a most 

 voracious bird, devouring any thing that comes in its way — fish, frogs, Crustacea, mollusks, reptiles, &c. The 

 young bird which I reared, and which lived six months and died from inflammation brought on by the damp 

 weather of the Galle district, lived on meat, lizards, &c, scraps from the kitchen, and, in fact, would eat 

 almost any thing that was thrown to it, either cooked or raw. It roamed about my little compound, often 

 taking up its stand near or even in the kitchen, and while young would squat down on its tarsi when hungry, 

 flap its wings, and dart out its bill. It had a great antipathy to children and dogs, and when approached by 

 them would become very angry, squatting in the position just mentioned, its toes extended, snapping its bill 

 loudly, and uttering a harsh and guttural crake. Fish and large pieces of meat it bolted with surprising- 

 quickness, and after being fed would walk about with its bill wide open, as if asking for more ! Fish were of 

 course swallowed, after the manner of Cormorants and Pelicans, with the head foremost. It stood much on 

 one leg, and when resting would always squat down on the tarsus. When it grew up I confined it in an aviary 

 with a Sea-Eagle ; and as an instance of its voracity I may mention that one day I was taking a large rat in 

 to the Eagle, and having to squeeze myself through a small doorway had passed in the hand holding the rat 

 before I got through myself, when the Ibis catching sight of the dainty morsel ran forward, seized it, and 



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