Species III. TANTALUS ALBUS. 



WHITE IBIS. 



[Plato LXVI. Fig. 3.] 



Le Courli hlanc du Br4sil, Bbiss. v., p. 339, 10. — Burr, viii., p. 41. — Oourly blanc 

 d'Am^ique, Pl.Enl. 915. — WJiite Curlew, Catesbt, i., pi. 82. — Lath. Syn. in., 

 p. Ill, No. ^.—Arct. Zool. No. 363.* 



This species bears in every respect, except that of color, so strong a 

 resemblance to the preceding, that I have been almost induced to believe 

 it the same, in its white or imperfect stage of color. The length and 

 form of the bill, the size, conformation, as well as color of the legs, the 

 general length and breadth, and even the steel blue on the four outer 

 quill feathers, are exactly alike in both. These suggestions, however, 

 are not made with any certainty of its being the same ; but as circum- 

 stances which may lead to a more precise examination of the subject 

 hereafter. 



I found this species pretty numerous on the borders of Lake Pont- 

 chartrain, near New Orleans, in the month of June, and also observed 

 the Indians sitting in market with strings of thern for sale. I met with 

 them again on the low keys or islands oflF the peninsula of Florida. 

 Mr. Bartram observes that " they fly in large flocks or squadrons, even- 

 ing and morning, to and from their feeding places or roosts, and are 

 usually called Spanish Curlews. They feed chiefly on cray fish, whose 

 cells they probe, and with their strong pinching bills drag them out." 

 The low islands above mentioned abound with these creatures and small 

 crabs, the ground in some places seeming alive with them, so that the 

 rattling of their shells against one another was incessant. My vener- 

 able friend, in his observations on these birds adds, " It is a pleasing 

 sight at times of high winds, and heavy thunder storms, to observe the 

 numerous squadrons of these Spanish Curlews, driving to and fro, turn- 

 ing and tacking about high up in the air, when by their various evolu- 

 tions in the different and opposite currents of the wind, high in the 

 clouds, their silvery white plumage gleams and sparkles like the brightest 

 crystal, reflecting the sunbeams that dart upon them between the dark 

 clouds." 



* Tantalus albus, Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 705, No. 9. — Gmel. Syst. p. 651, No. 6. 



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