WOOD IBIS. 497 



He also mentions that it would stand for hours perfectly still, with its 

 long bill hanging straight down its neck. When tired of this position 

 it would lay the tarsus flat upon the ground and stand upon the end of 

 the tibia 



Both Dr. Coues and Mr. Kirkpatrick may have referred to the same 

 specimens actually taken in Ohio at the time the flock described by Dr. 

 Haymond made its appearance on our Indiana border. Fortunately 

 I am not obliged to question the above authorities in adding this bird to 

 our list : just as this goes to press, Mr. H. E. Chubb, of Cleveland, a well- 

 known taxidermist and naturalist, writes me that : " A young male, which 

 I have in my collection, was shot last spring ten miles west of Cleve- 

 land. There were no others with it." 



I extract the following from Dr. Coues' extended account of its habits 

 (Birds, N. W., page 513) : 



" The Wood Ibis is a remarkable and interesting bird. In its general size, shape and 

 «olor, it might be likened to a Crane, being about four feet long, and standing still 

 higher when erect; white in color, with black-tipped wings and black tail. The head 

 is peculiar, being entirely bald in the adnlt bird, and having an enormously thick, 

 heavy bill, tapering and a little decurved at the end. Iq Florida it is sometimes called 

 the " Gannet " ; on the Colorado it is known as the Water Turkey. 



The carriage of the Wood Ibis is firm and sedate, almost stately ; each leg is slowly 

 lifted and planted with deliberate precision, before the other is moved, when the birds 

 walk nnsneploious of danger. I never saw one run rapidly, since on all the occasions 

 when I have been the cause of alarm, the bird took wing directly. It springs power- 

 fully from the ground, bending low to gather strength, and for a little distance flaps 

 hurriedly with dangling legs, as if it was much exertion to lift so heavy a body. Bat 

 fairly on wing, clear of all obstacles, the flight is firm, strong, and direct, performed 

 with continuous moderately rapid beats of the wing, except when the birds are sailing 

 in circles as above noted. When proceeding in a straight line the feet are stretched 

 horizontally backward, but the head is not drawn closely in upon the breast, as is 

 the case with Herons, so that the bird presents what may be called a top-heavy appear- 

 ance, increased by the thick large bill. 



The eggs of the Wood Ibis are like Heron's, in being nearly ellipsoidal, but differ from 

 these, as well as from those of the Bay Ibis, in color, which is uniform dull white, with- 

 out markings. The shell is rather rough to the touch, with a coating of softish, flaky, 

 calcareous substance. A specimen that I measured was exactly 2J inches in length by 

 If in breadth. Two or three are said to be a nest-complement." 



Sub-family lBiDiN.ffi. True Ibises. 



Head partially naked. Bill very long and slender, curved throughont, and grooved 

 nearly to the tip. 



Gknus PELGADIS. Kanp. 

 With the characters of the sub-family, and tarsus scntellate. 

 32 



