PLEGADIS. 189 



Also with entire throat hare : — 



The genus Oomatibis. One species — C, comata, 30", with long and narrow nuchal crest, 

 head bare, general colour above black, from Asia Minor, Ked Sea, Abyssinia, and N.E. Africa. 



The genus Geronticus. One species — G. calvus, 26", general colour dark metallic green, 

 with nuchal crest of soft plumes, confined to S. Africa. 



Also with head feathered: — 



The genus Bostrychia. One species — B. caruneulata, 28", general colour blackish, with nape 

 strongly crested, and a fleshy wattle in centre of throat, from N. E. Africa. 



The genus Hagedashia. One species — H, hagedash, 23", general colour above dark olive- 

 green, chin feathered like the throat, and some warty papillae on lores, confined to Africa. 



Also with chin bare and forehead feathered: — 



The genus Theristicus. Two species — T. melanopia, 26", general colour silver-grey, lores 

 with warts, region of eye bare, n» crest on nape, from S. America ; and T. caudatus, 26", from 

 British Guiana. 



The genus Molybdophanes. One species — M, ccerulescens, 30", general colour grey, mottled 

 brown, large nuchal lanceolate crest, region of eye feathered, from S. America. 



The genus Sdrpiprion, One species — H. cayennensis, 22", general colour dark grass-green, 

 lores bare, with no papillae, small nuchal, metallic crest, from C. and S. America. 



The genus Phimosus. One species — P. infuscatus, 20^", general colour black, glossed 

 green, forehead and lores bare, with warty papillae, no nuchal crest, from S. America. (B.M. 

 Cat., xivi. 11-26.) 



(ii.) Tarsus plated with transverse scales. 

 Genus PLEGADIS. 

 Head feathered. Chin, lores, and area in front of eye bare. Tail short. Toes 

 strong, claws sharp and pointed, that of mid toe nearly straight. 



196. Plegadis igneus. The Glossy Ibis. 



Kowari, India; Kala Kachiatora, Bengal; Kankaram (Telugu); Kotan, Ceylon. 



$ 22" to 25". Legs with blue garter. Bill 5 J", blackish. — In summer: 

 Head, breast, and below chestnut ; rest dark green, glossed purple. — In winter : 

 Head and neck brown, streaked with white. — Young: Ash-brown, with white 

 markings. Widely spread throughout the warmer parts of the world. Seems 

 to be the Black Curlew of East Anglia. Found in India, Ceylon, and Burma. 

 Breeds in Sind on E. Nira, also in Ceylon. Generally three eggs (2-01 a 140), 

 blue. (J. 943. B. 1544.) 



Also P. gucerauna. 21". With white band across forehead. From United States, America, 

 C. and S. America, St. Domingo, and Sandwich Isles. 



P. ridgwayi. 22". With under surface purplish black. From Peru and Bolivia. 



Also iirith short tail : — 



The genus Lampribis. One species — L. olvmcea, 19", general colour above dark grass- 

 green, toes weak, claws small and curved, from W. Africa. 



The genus Eudocimm. Two species— .B. albus, 25", pure white, from S. United States, 

 America ; and K ruber, 19", general colour brilliant scarlet, from S. United States, America, 

 and British Guiana. 



Also rdth tail very long : — 



The genus Cercibis. One species — C. oxycerca, 34", general colom: black, and moderate 

 crest, from N. of S. America. 



Also the genus Lophotibis. One species — L. cristata, 28", general colour chestnut, head 

 folly crested, chin feathered, from Madagascar. 



Family PLATALEIDiE. 

 Bill straight, broad, flat, and dilated at end. Head partially or entirely bare. 

 Nostrils in a groove extending to the front of the bill. Eemiges thirty. Plumage 

 white. 



