IBISES. 169 
when the misty air and lurid sky, muttering 
thunder, and angrily rolling billows, all give 
evidence of its approach, he may be seen gal- 
Jlantly awaiting the storm. Should he not be 
able to force a passage against its fury, he keeps 
his ground by ballancing himself in the air like 
the hawk. For three successive springs the 
plumage of this bird increases in beauty, the 
green, purple, and bronze tints acquiring greater 
distinctness. 
Another species of these birds is the Amer- 
ican white pelican, so named by Audubon in 
distinction, to the white pelican of Europe; it 
varies but slightly in its habits from the rest of 
its tribe. 
Its snowy plumage, when unsoiled, as on 
rising from the water, is extremely beautiful, as 
well as its broadly expanded crest and eyes of 
diamond. brightness. 
America possesses a variety of the ibis in the 
scarlet, the white, the brown, the glossy, and 
the wood ibis. The latter frequents the banks 
of forest pools, swamps, and the pine: barrens. 
In desolate recesses, where the abounding cy- 
presses, hung with lichens, form a complete 
labyrinth of shade, it is seen. In many re 
spects it resembles the pelican and vulture, as 
in the greediness with which it feeds; after 
which it-remains for hours in a state of reple-. 
15 
