IBIDIDJE: IBISES. 649 



262. PIiE'GADIS. (Gr. 7rXijyds,i3feg'as, a scythe, sickle.) GrLOSSY Ibises. Bill twice as long 

 as head, or more, regularly decurved; both mandibles grooved on sides for their whole length; 

 culmen prominent from near base for most of its length, flattened and grooved on terminal two- 

 fifths ; symphysis of lower mandible grooved to tip. Thus each mandible, toward the end of 

 the bill, has 3 grooves, one median and two lateral ; 6 in all. Nostrils linear, in advance of 

 base of upper mandible, in its lateral grooves. Frontal feathers sweeping with strongly convex 

 outline across forehead, near but not quite at base of bill ; lores broadly naked, the bare space 

 embracing eyes ; a pointed projection of feathers on side of lower mandible ; another median 

 one advancing farther and more acutely on bare space of chin, which is thus forked behind. 

 TibisB bare for a distance equal to half or more of the length of tarsus ; mostly reticulate, but 

 ■wiiii smooth bare skin for a space above in iront. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw, 

 reticulate, scutellate in front. Lateral toes unequal, the inner shortest. Hind toe somewhat 

 elevated, without claw not half as long as middle toe without claw. Claws aU long and 

 slightly curved ; inner edge of middle one dilated and out three or four times, but without the 

 regular "comb "of a heron's. Wings and tail ordinary, latter of 12 feathers. Colors dark 

 glossy-green and chestnut ; bill and feet dark. Two or three species, one cosmopolitan, one 

 or two confined to America. Sexes alike ; young different. Eggs whole-colored. 



649. P. falcinellus. (Lat. /aZcMwcwte or /asZcMjeHws, a little scythe.) GtLOSST Ibis. (J ?, adult: 

 No white feathers around face. General color rich dark purplish-chestnut, opaque, changing 

 on head, back, wings (excepting lesser coverts), and tail, to glossy dark purplish-green ; sides 

 and lining of wings and crissum dusky gi-eenisli; primaries greenish -black. Bill blackish; 

 legs grayish -black ; iris brown; bare skin of head slaty-blue. Young: Head, neck, and under 

 parts grayish-brown, the two former streaked with whitish ; upper parts glossy dusky-green. 

 Length about 3 feet; extent about 3 feet; wing 10.00-11.00 inches; tail 4.00; bill 4.50- 

 5.50 ; tibiae bare about 2.50 ; tarsus 3.50 ; middle toe and claw rather less. This bird is chiefly 

 Old World, not common or regular in America, found occasionally anywhere E. of the Missis- 

 sippi, especially coastwise and southerly ; N. casually to New England. The next species is 

 much more abundant in its proper range. Eggs with shell rougher and heavier than that of 

 heron's eggs, ovoidal, not elliptical, greenish-blue, 1.90 to 2.10 long, by about 1.48 broad. '^ 



650. P. guarau'na. „ (Vox barb., S. Am.) White-paced Glossy Ibis. Adult $ : A white 

 margin of feathers. entirely suiTounding the bare space on head. Head otherwise, neck, and 

 entire under parts of the body, including the tibia, rich purplish-chestnut, quite uniform on 

 the under parts, obscuVed with dusky on the head and nape, there iridescent with violet. Back 

 and wings intensely iridescent with various metallic tints ; back, wing-coverts; and inner quills 

 shining with violet, green, and purple; scapulars more like under parts, being of a rich deep 

 vrine-red and less lustrous than the wing-coverts. Primaries green, with brassy or almost 

 golden lustre. Rump, upper tail-coverts and tail chiefly green, but with various violet and .purple 

 reflections ; lower tail-coverts similar, contrasting with the chestnut of the belly. Lining of 

 wings brassy-green, like the primaries; axUlars violet, like the upper wing-coverts. Bare 

 facial area apparently reddish. Bill blackish, reddening toward end ; legs and feet dusky- 

 reddish; claws blackish; iris red. Length 22.00-34.00; extent 38.00-40.00; wing 10.00- 

 11.00 ; tail 3.75-4.25 ; bill 5.00-5.50 ; tibiae bare 2.50 ; tarsus 3.75 ; middle toe and claw 3.25 ; 

 inner do., 2.50; outer do., 2.90; hind do., 1.60. 9 similar, averaging smaller; length 21.50; 

 extent 36.00, etc. In this beautiful species, the feathers sweep down on the forehead with 

 regular convexity, nearly but not quite to the base of the cuhnen, thence retreating around 

 back of the eye, which is wholly in bare skin, then running forward to a point on the side of 

 the lower mandible ; retreating again, then running forward in a point on the middle line of 

 the chin, further than on jaw or forehead ; there being thus enclosed, on each side of the 

 head, a broad naked space, widest forward, narrowing behind to embrace the eye ; and between 

 the rami of the jaw another bare space, forked behind to receive the projecting feathers of the 



