252. 
649. 
650. 
IBIDID_E : IBISES. 649 
PLE'GADIS. (Gr. rAnyds, plegas, a scythe, sickle.) GLossy Ispises. Bill twice as long 
as head, or more, regularly decurved; both mandibles grooved on sides for their whole length; 
culmen prominent from near base for most of its length, flattened and grooved on terminal two- 
fifths; symphysis of lower mandible grooved to tip. Thus each mandible, toward the end of 
the bill, has 3 grooves, one median and two lateral; 6 in all. Nostrils linear, in advance of 
base of upper mandible, in its lateral grooves. Frontal feathers sweeping with strongly convex 
outline across forehead, near but not quite at base of bill; lores broadly naked, the bare space 
embracing eyes; a pointed projection of feathers on side of lower mandible ; another median 
one advancing farther and more acutely on bare space of chin, which is thus forked behind. 
Tibie bare for a distance equal to half or more of the length of tarsus; mostly reticulate, but 
with smooth bare skin for a space above in front. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw, 
reticulate, scutellate in front. Lateral toes unequal, the inner shortest. Hind toe somewhat. 
elevated, without claw not half as long as middle toe without claw. Claws all long and 
slightly curved; inner edge of middle one dilated and cut three or four times, but without the 
regular “comb” of a heron’s. Wings and tail ordinary, latter of 12 feathers. Colors dark 
glossy-green and chestnut; bill and feet dark. Two or three species, one cosmopolitan, one 
or two confined to America. Sexes alike; young different. Eggs whole-colored. 
P. falcinel/lus, (Lat. falcwnculus or falcinellus, a little scythe.) Guossy Ipis. ¢ 9, adult: 
No white feathers around face. General color rich dark purplish-chestnut, opaque, changing 
on head, back, wings (excepting lesser coverts), and tail, to glossy dark purplish-green ; sides 
and lining of wings and crissum dusky greenish; primaries greenish-black. Bill blackish ; 
legs grayish-black ; iris brown; bare skin of head slaty-blue. Young: Head, neck, and under 
parts grayish-brown, the two former streaked with whitish ; upper parts glossy dusky-green. 
Length about 2 feet; extent about 3 feet; wing 10.00-11.00 inches; tail 4.00; bill 4.50— 
5.50; tibia bare about 2.50 ; tarsus 3.50; middle toe and claw rather less. This bird is chiefly 
Old World, not common or regular in America, found occasionally anywhere E. of the Missis- 
sippi, especially coastwise and southerly ; N. casually to New England. The next species is 
much more abundant in its proper range. Eggs with shell rougher and heavier than that of 
heron’s eggs, ovoidal, not elliptical, greenish-blue, 1.90 to 2.10 long, by about 1.48 broad. 
P. guarau’na. (Vox barb., 8. Am.) Watre-racep GtLossy Isis. Adult ¢: A white 
margin of feathers entirely surrounding the bare space on head. Head otherwise, neck, and 
entire under parts of the body, including the tibie, rich purplish-chestnut, quite uniform ou 
the under parts, obscured with dusky on the head and nape, there iridescent with violet. Back 
and wings intensely iridescent with various metallic tints ; back, wing-coverts, and inner quills 
shining with violet, green, and purple; scapulars more like under parts, being of a rich deep 
wine-red and less lustrous than the wing-coverts. Primaries green, with brassy or almost 
golden lustre. Rump, upper tail-coverts and tail chiefly green, but with various violet and purple 
reflections ; lower tail-coverts similar, contrasting with the chestnut of the belly. Lining of 
wings brassy-green, like the primaries; axillars violet, like the upper wing-coverts. Bare 
facial area apparently reddish. Bill blackish, reddening toward end; legs and feet dusky- 
reddish ; claws blackish; iris red. Length 22.00-24.00; extent 38.00-40.00; wing 10.00— 
11.00; tail 3.75-4.25 ; bill 5.00-5.50; tibice bare 2.50; tarsus 3.75; middle toe and claw 3.25; 
inner do., 2.50; outer do., 2.90; hind do., 1.60. @ similar, averaging smaller; length 21.50; 
extent 36.00, etc. In this beautiful species, the feathers sweep down on the forehead with 
regular convexity, nearly but not quite to the base of the culmen, thence retreating around 
back of the eye, which is wholly in bare skin, then running forward to a point on the side of 
the lower mandible; retreating again, then running forward in a point on the middle line of 
the chin, further than on jaw or forehead; there being thus enclosed, on each side of the 
head, a broad naked space, widest forward, narrowing behind to embrace the eye ; and between 
the rami of the jaw another bare space, forked behind to receive the projecting feathers of the 
