STORK'S 



(188) Mycteria americana 



{LUhi.) (Gr., to turn up the nose). 



WOOD IBIS. Ads.— WiW very 

 large and slightly decurved. Whole 

 head naked, pale bluish and covered 

 with scales. Plumage as shown; 

 tail and primaries black; the under 

 tail coverts usually project somewhat 

 beyond the ends of the tail feathers. 

 Im. — Head downy-feathered; plum- 

 age dark gray, with blackish wings 

 and tail. L., 48.00; Ex., 66.00; 

 W., 19.00; T., 6.00; Tar., 8.00; 

 B. 9.00, depth at base 2.00 or more. 

 Nest — Platform of sticks at low 

 elevation; three or four, white, gran- 

 ular eggs, 2.7s X 1.75. 



Range — Breeds from S. Car., 

 Ohio and southern Cal. southward. 

 Casual in N. E., N. Y. and Wis. 



Family CICONIIDyE. Storks and Wood Ibises 



WOOD IBISES are so called unfortunately, because they 

 are not ibises at all, but storks differing from the common 

 Old World species chiefly in the form of the windpipe. 

 Although large, ungainly appearing birds, their flight is 

 exceedingly graceful. At times flocks of them will mount 

 in the air and, sweeping around in widening circles on wings, 

 apparently motionless, climb to heights almost beyond our 

 vision — a beautiful sight and a feat accompUshed with a 

 grace and ease not e.xceUed by any flying creature. Appar- 

 ently performed just for love of flying, these daily pilgrim- 

 ages to the upper world are probably taken as a matter of 

 exercise, for they are at most times very indolent. 



For hours at a time they will stand motionless in the 

 shallow water of lagoons waiting for the fish or frog that is 

 sure to pass them sooner or later; a sudden plunge of the 

 great beak and an ibis appetite is satisfied for a short time. 



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