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TJ. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



TANTALUS, Linnaeus. 



Tantalus, LinSaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 1758. Type Tantalus loculator, L. 



Ch.— Bill very long, much thickened at the base and deeurved at the tip. Edges rather smooth. Nasal groove not 

 continued beyond the nostrils, which are broad, pervious, and not surrounded by membrane. Head and neck entirely bare in 

 *he adult ; the latter with the skin transversely rugose. Legs lengthened ; tibia more than half bare, and with the tarsus, 

 covered by small hexagonal scales. Outer lateral toe longer than inner ; the toes connected at base by membrane. 



Young with the head partly feathered. 



TANTALUS LOCULATOR, Linn. 



Wood Ibis ; Colorado Turkey. 



Tantalus loculator, Linn. I, 1766, 240.— Gm. I, 667.— Lath. Ind. Orn. II, 702.— "Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, 1814, 

 39 ; pi. Ixvi.— Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 197.— Ib. List, 1838.- Ib. Consp. II, 1855, 149 — 

 Wagler, Isis, 1831,530.— NiTTT. Man. II, 1834, 82.— Add. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835,128; pi. 

 216.— Ib. Syn. 1839, 258.— Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 64; pi. 36.— Gundlach, Cab. Jour. 

 IV, 1856, 348. 

 9" Ibis naudopoa, Vieillot," Gray. 

 " Tantalus plumicollis, Spix, Av. Bras. tab. ixxxv." 

 Wood pelican, Catesbt, Car. pi. Ixxxi. 

 Sp. Ch. — Adult. Entirely white ; tail and quills metallic blackish green, with purple reflections. 

 Young. Neek and head feathered as in Ibis. Color duller than in adult ; the downy feathers of neck dusky. 

 Length about 45 inches ; wing, 18.50 ; bill, 8.50 ; tarsus, 7.10. 

 Hab. — South Atlantic and Gulf States, and across to the Colorado river; as far north as North Carolina and mouth of Ohio. 



This well known species needs no especial comparisons to distinguish it from every other 

 North American bird. It is said to be abundant on the Colorado river, especially about Fort 

 Yuma, and to be there called Colorado turkey. 



List of specimens. 



IBIS, Moehring. 



Ibis, Moehring, Genera Avium, 1758, 71. Type Tantalus ruber, L., according to G. R. Gray. 

 Ch. — Bill very long, moderately thickened at the base, and curving downwards to the tip. Nasal groove deeply impressed, 

 extending to the end of the bill. Nostrils impervious, surrounded, except below, by membrane. Basal portion of cutting 

 edges of bill with dull serrations in one species. Forehead and base of bill all round, extending behind the eyes and on the 

 chin, bare, except in /. ordii. Tibia bare for half its length, covered with hexagonal scales ; scales on the anterior part of the 

 tarsus broad and transverse. Middle toe nearly aa long as the tarsus ; outer lateral longer ; hinder elevated ; toes connected at 

 base by web . 



Gray gives Tantalus ruber, L., as the type of Moehring's genus Ibis. This author quotes 

 Belon. 1. 4, c. 9, and Seba, Thesaurus, I, tab. 62, f. 3. The latter citation is said to refer to 

 Tantalus ruber ; of the former I can learn nothing. 



The North American species are readily known by the red color of the first, the white body 

 and red bill of the second, and the chestnut body and neck with metallic green, &c., on the 



