PLEGADIS. — GRUf^. 201 



Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. xxvi. 1898, p. 29 ; Saunders, 

 Manual, 2nd ed. 1899, p. 391. 



Falcinellus, diminutive of fdlcinue, from falx = a sickle. 



Distribution in the British Islands. — A Bird of Passage, 

 rare in spring but o£ almost annual occurrence in autumn 

 on the southern or eastern coasts o£ England, as far north 

 as Yorkshire, but less frequent in the west. In Scotland 

 about a score have been observed from time to time, besides 

 a flock of tvcenty seen in the Orkneys in Sept. 1907. 

 In Ireland about forty have been recorded, chiefly in the 

 southern counties. 



General Distribution. — The Glossy Ibis is very widely 

 distributed. It breeds in southern Europe from Spain to 

 the valley of the Danube, and eastwards across central and 

 southern Asia to India, Burma, and Ceylon. Its occurrence 

 is irregular north of the Alps, and to the Faeroes, Iceland, 

 Scandinavia, and Denmark it is an accidental wanderer. 

 It also occurs throughout the greater part of Africa and 

 Madagascar, hut is not known to nest in south Africa. 

 In America it is rare and local in the south-eastern United 

 States and West Indies, and is occasionally met with as far 

 north as Nova Scotia. In winter it leaves the northern 

 parts of its range and visits tropical Africa and Asia, 

 wandering to Australia. In the southern United States 

 and in South America it is represented by closely allied 

 forms. 



Order GRUIFORMES. 



Suborder aBUES. 



Family GRUIDiE. 



Genus GRITS Bechstein (nee Pall), Gemeinn. Naturg. 

 Deutschl. iii. 1793, p. 59. p. €. 



Type : G. grus (Linn.). 



Grus = a Crane in classical Latin ; akin to yepavos, gallus, garrio = 

 chatter, etc. 



