GentjsLXX. tantalus. IBIS. 

 Spbcies I. TANTALUS LOOULATOB. 



WOOD IBIS. 



[Plate LXVI. Fig. 1.] 



Le grand Courli d'AmMque, Briss. v. 358, 8.— Couricaca, Buff, vii., p. 276, PI. 

 Enl. 868.— Catesb. i., ?,\.—Arct. Zool. No. 360.— Lath. Syn. in., p. 104. 



The Wood Ibis inhabits tbe lower parts of Louisiana, Carolina, and 

 Georgia; is very common in Florida, and extends as far south as 

 Cayenne, Brazil, and various parts of South America. In the United 

 States it is migratory ; but has never, to my knowledge, been found to 

 the north of Virginia. Its favorite haunts are watery savannahs and 

 inland swamps, where it feeds on fish and reptiles. The French inhabit- 

 ants of Louisiana esteem it good eating. 



With the particular manners of this species I ain not personally 

 acquainted ; but the following characteristic traits are given of it by 

 Mr. William Bartram, who had the best opportunities of noting them. 



" This solitary bird," he observes, " does not associate in flocks ; but 

 is generally seen alone, commonly near the banks of great rivers, in 

 vast marshes or meadows, especially such as are covered by inundations, 

 and also in the vast deserted rice plantations ; he stands alone, on the 

 topmost limb of tall dead cypress trees, his neck contracted or drawn 

 in upon his shoulders, his beak resting like a long scythe upon his breast; 

 in this pensive posture, and solitary situation, they look extremely grave, 

 sorrowful and melancholy, as if in the deepest thought. They are never 

 seen on the seacoast, and yet are never found at a great distance from 

 it.. They feed on serpents, young alligators, frogs, and other reptiles."* 



The figure of this bird given in the plate was drawn from a very fine 

 specimen, sent from Georgia by Stephen Elliott, Esq., of Beaufort, 

 South Carolina ; its size and markings were as follow : 



Length three feet two inches ; bill nearly nine inches long, straight 

 for half its length, thence curving downwards to the extremity, and full 

 two inches thick at the base, where it rises high in the head, the whole 

 of a brownish horn color ; the under mandible fits into the upper in its 



» Travels, &e., p. 150. 



(316) 



