88 WATER BIRDS 



em or the eared grebe, and is less noisy, its call being 

 only a plaintive note quite in contrast to the hoarse croak- 

 ing cries of the larger species. It is also less gregarious ; 

 a pair may sometimes be found nesting in a marsh unfre- 

 quented by any other of their species. 



187. WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS.—Plegadis guarauna. 



Family : The Ibises. 



Length: 22.50. 



Adults: Head, neck, and lower parts reddish brown; feathers around 

 base of bill white ; lores pink ; upper parts iridescent green and 

 purple. 



Young : Upper parts as in adults, except head and neck streaked with 

 white and dark ashy gi'ay ; under parts plain gray -brown. 



Downy Young: Entirely black. 



Geographical Distribution; Tropical America, south to Argentine Re- 

 public and Chili ; north from Texas and Lower California to Oregon. 



Breeding Range : Texas and the Gulf States, and, to a limited degree, in 

 the Ballona marshes, as well as various San Diegan points. 



Breeding Season : April, May, and June. 



Nest : Of reeds woven in among the rushes ; shaped similar to the red- 

 winged blackbird's nest, but much larger. 



Eggs: 3 to 5 ; deep bluish green. Size 1.95 X 1.35. 



In the wet meadows and marshes of California there 

 are frequently seen queer black birds which might be 

 taken for large crows but for their long legs and long, 

 curved, curlew-like bills. They wade about probing in 

 the mud for crayfish or snails, or stand motionless on 

 one leg in heronesque attitudes, watching for minnows 

 in the shallow water. In habits they seem to resemble 

 the bitterns, nesting in the rushes and feeding upon 

 frogs, fresh-water crustaceans, or small snakes, trusting 

 to protective coloring for safety except when forced to 



