IBIS. 519 



Genus IBIS. 



The Ibises were included by Linnseus in the genus Tantalus, of which 

 Tantalus loculator, the " Tantalus " of Klein, is generally accepted as the 

 type. This species, having only one notch on each side of the posterior 

 margin of the sternum, has been removed into the subfamily of the Storks, 

 and a new genus has been made for the true Ibises. The genus Ibis was 

 established by Lacepede in 1801, in the third volume of the M6m. de 

 rinst. Sc. Math, et Phys. p. 518, the Sacred Ibis (the Tantalus ibis of 

 Linnaeus) being the type. 



The Ibises are distinguished by the form of their bill, which is long, 

 narrow, and curved downward, like that of a Curlew. The tarsus is covered 

 with small reticulations before and behind in the larger species ; but 

 scutellated in front in the smaller species. The head and part of the neck 

 are sometimes bare of feathers. The wings are moderately long, and the 

 tail is rather short, consisting of twelve broad feathers. The plumage 

 is often adorned with metallic tints, and several species are very brilhant 

 in colour. 



This genus contains about a score species, which are distributed through- 

 out the temperate and tropical portions of both hemispheres, with the 

 exception of the smaller islands. Only one species is European, which 

 is a rare straggler to the British Islands. 



The birds ill this genus frequent swamps, the reed- and marsh-covered 

 shores of lagoons and lakes, and flat coasts. They are wary and gre- 

 garious in their habits. They walk about very sedately, and their flight 

 is powerful but somewhat laboured. Their notes are harsh. Their food 

 consists of aquatic insects, small reptiles, fish, &c. They breed in large 

 swamps, making their nests of sticks and aquatic herbage ; and their eggs 

 are green or white spotted with reddish brown. 



