40 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



in securing its food as it wades about in the water, 

 scooping up the fish and frogs that come in its way. 



The Ibises, though they bear a superficial resem- 

 blance to the Curlews, really belong to the Stork tribe, 

 and are most nearly related to the Spoonbills. These 

 birds, like the preceding, are limited to the warmer 

 regions of the earth. The Sacred Ibis of Egypt was 

 an object of worship, and after death was embalmed 

 by the ancient Egyptians. The veneration in which 

 it was held may be seen from the various representa- 

 tions of it upon the obelisks and other remains of a 

 former civilisation. In form the Sacred Ibis is not 

 prepossessing. The long, downward curving bill, bare 

 head and neck are black in colour, the skin of the 

 legs is also blackish. These birds are extremely in- 

 quisitive and bold, but are rather difficult to approach 

 on account of their remarkably keen sight. The long 

 bill is used as a probe, and the bird is continually 

 inserting it into holes and crevices, either in search 

 of food or simply to satisfy its curiosity. See Plate 

 34, Fig. 196. 



The Scarlet Ibis of our Southern States is the most 

 brilliantly coloured species known, and is probably 

 the brightest in hue of all living birds. For some 

 reason, however, the bird soon loses its glorious colour 

 in confinement, though it has been recently found that 

 by the use of certain kinds of food the colour can be 

 to some extent retained. In form this species is more 

 delicate and smaller than the Sacred Ibis. It is being 

 rapidly exterminated by plume-hunters. 



The Wood Ibis, which is really a Stork, is a larger 

 bird than those already described, but is coloured 



