IBIDID^^: IBISES. ^^^ 



252. PLE'GADIS. (Gr.7rX,;yat,jjZf(/«s, a scythe, sickle.) Glossy Ibises. Bill twice as long 

 as head, or more, regularly decairved ; both mandibles grooved on sides for their «h..le len.gth; 

 culmen prominent from near base for most of its length, flattened and grooved on terminal two- 

 fifths ; symphysis of lower mandible grooved to tip. Thus each mandible, toward the end (jf 

 the bill, "has .3 grooves, one median and two lateral; G in aU. Nostrils linear, in advance of 

 base of upper mandible, in its lateral grouves. Frontal feathers swe</]nng with strongly convex 

 outline across forehead, near but not ciuite at base <jf bill ; lores l>roadly naked, the bare space 

 (;mbracing eyes ; a pointed projection of feathers on side of hjwer mandible ; another me<han 

 one advancing farther and more acutely on bare space cjf chin, which is thus forked behind. 

 Tibia? bare for a distance equal to half or more of the length of tarsus ; mostly reticulate, but 

 witli smooth bare skin for a space above in front. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw, 

 reticulate, scutellate in fi-out. Lateral toes unecpial, the inner shortest. Hind toe somewhat 

 elevated, without claw not half as long as middle toe with<jut claw. Claws all long and 

 slightly curved ; inner edge of middle one dilated and cut three or four times, but without the 

 regular " comb " of a heron's. Wings and tail ordinary, latter of 12 feathers. Colors dark 

 glossy-green and chestnut ; bill and feet dark. Two or three species, one cosmopolitan, one 

 or two confined to America. Sexes alike ; young difl'erent. Eggs whole-colored. 

 649. P. faleinellus. (Lat. fcdcimcuhis ov falcinellus, a little scythe.) Glossy Ibis. (J 9 , adult : 

 No white feathers around face. General color rich dark purplish-chestnut, opaque, changing 

 on head, back, wings (excepting lesser coverts), and tail, to glossy dark purpUsli-green ; sides 

 and lining of wings and crissum dusky gi'eenish ; primaries greenish-black. Bill blackish ; 

 legs grayish-black ; iris bro\vn ; bare skin of head slaty-blue. Young : Head, neck, and under 

 parts grayish-brown, the two former streaked -ivith whitish; upper parts glossy dusky-green. 

 Length about 2 feet; extent about 3 feet; wing 10.00-11.00 inches; tail 1.00; bill 4.50- 

 5.50 ; tibias bare about 2.50 ; tarsus 3.50 ; middle toe and claw rather less. This bird is chiefly 

 Old World, not common or regular in America, found occasionally anywhere E. of the Missis- 

 sippi, especially coastwise and southerly ; N. casually to New England. The next species is 

 much more abundant iu its proper range. Eggs with shell rougher and heavier than that of 

 heron's eggs, ovoidal, not elliptical, greenish-lilue, 1.90 to 2.10 long, by about 1.18 broad. 

 050. P. guarau'na. (Vox barb., S. Am.) White-faced Glossy' Ibis. Adult $ : A white 

 margin of feathers entirely surrounding the bare space on head. Head otherwise, neck, and 

 entire under parts of the body, including the tibia;, rich purplish-chestnut, quite uniform on 

 the under parts, obscured with dusky on the head and nape, there iridescent with -sdolet. Back 

 and wings intensely iridescent with various metalUc tints ; back, wing-coverts, and inner quills 

 shining with violet, green, and purple ; scapulars more like under parts, being of a rich deep 

 wine-red and less Insti'ous than the wing-coverts. Primaries green, with brassy or almost 

 golden lustre. Rump, upper tail-coverts and tail chiefly green, but with various vitdet and purple 

 reflections ; lower tail-coverts similar, contrasting with the chestnut of the belly. Lining of 

 wings brassy-green, like the primaries ; axillars violet, like the upper wing-coverts. Bare 

 facial area apparently reddish. Bill blackish, reddening toward end ; legs and feet dusky- 

 reddish; claws blackish; iris red. Length 22.00-24.00; extent 38.00^0.00; wing 10.00- 

 11.00 ; tail 3.75-4.25 ; bill 5.00-5.50 ; tibise bare 2.50 ; tarsus 3.75 ; middle toe and claw 3.25 ; 

 inner do., 2.50; outer do., 2.90; hind do., 1.60. 9 similar, averaging smaller ; length 21.50; 

 extent 36.00, etc. In this beautiful species, the feathers sweep dovm on the forehead with 

 regular convexity, nearly but not quite to the base of the culmen, thence retreating around 

 back of the eye, which is wholly in bare skin, then running forward to a point on the side of 

 the lower mandible ; retreating again, then running forward in a point on the middle line of 

 the chin, fui-ther than on jaw or forehead ; there being thus enclosed, on each side of the 

 head, abroad naked space, widest forward, narrowing behind to embrace the eye ; and between 

 the rami of the jaw another bare space, forked behind to receive the projecting feathers of the 



