392 GLOSSY IBIS. 
sidered irregular. Southwards:it becomes common, and in Spain 
it nests freely in the marshes of Andalucia. Its most northern 
colonies appear to commence in Slavonia, and are to be found along 
the valley of the Danube, extending thence throughout the Black Sea 
district to the Caspian. In Asia it ranges to 48° N. lat., and breeds 
as far south as Ceylon ; while in winter it passes down the Eastern 
Archipelago to South Australia. It nests in suitable localities in 
North Africa, and on the east side of that continent its migrations 
extend to Natal. Our Glossy Ibis appears to be found in the 
Eastern United States, but the representative species in Neo-tropical 
America is P. guarauna, which has a white margin of feathers 
surrounding the bare space on the forehead. 
Mr. W. Eagle Clarke found the Glossy Ibis breeding by thousands 
in the great bird-colony on the Obedska ‘bara’ in Slavonia; its 
nests, constructed of sticks and a few reeds, being placed among the 
lower branches of sallow-bushes (tamarisks in Spain), either on 
the surface of the water or very little above it. The eggs, 3-4 in 
number, are oval, and are of a dark greenish-blue, slightly 
pitted : measurements 2 in. by 1°5 in. In India and Ceylon the 
nests are built in trees, and Col. Legge describes the young as 
climbing actively among the branches, and clinging so firmly with 
their feet as to be removed with difficulty. The food consists of 
small amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, &c., obtained on the muddy 
banks of rivers and estuaries ; also of locusts, scorpions and beetles. 
In flight the pinions are first moved rapidly, and produce a whizzing 
sound, after which the bird skims for some distance. 
The adult has the head, neck and under parts deep reddish- 
brown ; back, wings and tail brownish-black, glossed with metallic- 
green and purple; bill dark brown; bare skin round the eyes 
greenish-grey ; irides hazel; legs and feet bronze-brown. Length 
about 22 in.; wing 10°75 in. The sexes are alike in plumage, but 
the female is slightly smaller. The young bird has no glossy tints ; 
and the head, cheeks and neck are streaked and patched with 
greyish-white. 
The family of the Ibises, of which Plegadis forms a somewhat 
outlying genus, has no affinity to the Curlews, with which, owing to 
a superficial resemblance in the shape of the bill, it was formerly 
associated ; its relationship is with the Storks (Ciconiide), and, 
more closely, with the Spoonbills (Plataleide). The egg of the 
Sacred Ibis is similar to that of the Spoonbill, and so are, probably, 
the eggs of the other typical species. 
