122 rorni.Afi official guide. 



scarlet of this ycnns, are the wiiin; coverts, which are pale 

 red, or i)ink. 



The Scarlet Ibis, {Giiara rubra), is for its size the most 

 showy bird in existence, not even excepting the birds of 

 paradise. Excepting the black primaries, every feather on 

 the adult bird in perfect plumage is of a brilliant Chinese 

 vermilion color, visible in nature for a long distance. The 

 immature birds are mottled and patched with white. This 

 species once came as far north as southern Florida, but now 

 it is found only from Cuba southward. They frequent the 

 mud banks at the various mouths of the Orinoco, and not 

 long since were cjuite abundant on the coast of British 

 Guiana. 



The White-Faced Glossy Ibis, {Plegadis giiarauna), is not 

 a rare bird in captivity, and it will doubtless be possible to 

 maintain this species perpetually in the Flying Cage and 

 Aquatic Bird House. 



The Wood Ibis, (Tantalus loculator). — The Park obtains 

 its supply of birds of this species from Florida, where they 

 breed, in very greatly reduced numbers, on the headwaters 

 of the St. Johns. This bird is a very satisfactory member of 

 avian society. Although amply large to lord it over the 

 other birds of the cage, he quarrels with none, but peace- 

 fully goes his way, feeling with the point of his beak along 

 the sandy bottom of the pool for something edible, or stand- 

 ing in quiet meditation on the bank. Notwithstanding its 

 common name, this bird is not an ibis, but a true stork. In 

 its black and white plumage it is quite a handsome bird. 

 Although not so fond of using its wings in captivity as are 

 herons and egrets, the Wood Ibis is for many reasons a very 

 welcome tenant. 



The White Stork, (Ciconia ciconia), is as large as our 

 wood ibis, which it strongly resembles in form and habits. 

 This bird is literally the household bird of Germany, and its 

 place in the family has now become of more importance 

 than its place in nature. Throughout Holland, Germany, 

 and very nearly the whole of eastern and central Europe, 

 the White Stork is so prized and protected by the people 

 that it has attained a state of semi-domestication. Nesting 

 places are prepared for it, usually near or even upon human 

 habitations, and it enjoys an immunity from molestation 

 quite like that of the adjutant in India. 



The Great Blue Heron, [Ardea herodias), is frequently 

 called the "blue crane"; but the latter name is a misnomer. 

 It properly belongs to our sandhill crane {Grus canadensis). 



