266 GAME BIEDS OF CALIFORNIA 



birds of our state because it belongs to the same order of birds as the 

 White-faced Glossy Ibis which has in California been ranked as a 

 game species. The extraordinary appearance of this bird naturally 

 attracts attention, but does not warrant the destruction of the species 

 by the hunter. 



In many parts of its general range the Roseate Spoonbill has been 

 almost exterminated by plume hunters. But in California it never 

 occurred in conspicuous numbers, and the probability is that it will 

 always remain one of the rarest birds accredited to the state — a 

 natural curiosity that should be conserved as such. 



Wood Ibis 



Mycteria americana Linnaeus 



Other names — Water Turkey; Tantalus loculafor. 



Desceiption — Adults, both sexes: Whole head and upper neck devoid of 

 feathers (save for a few small scattering ones on fore and hind neck), and 

 covered with a hard, scurfy skin of a dusky bluish color; top of head covered 

 with a horny shield about one and three-quarters inches square; iris "deep 

 brown" (Audubon, 1843, VI, p. 70); bill stout, tapering, and curved down- 

 wards at end, dull yellowish brown in color, edges and tip greenish yellow; 

 whole of plumage white except for flight feathers, primary wing coverts, and 

 tail feathers, which are black with metallic green and purple iridescence; legs 

 bluish black; toes yellowish; claws black. Total length (both sexes) "35.00- 

 45.00" inches (888-1,143 mm.) (Eidgway, 1900, p. 125); folded wing 19.00- 

 19.35 (483-492); bill along culmen 9.00-9.12 (228-231.5); tarsus 8.25-8.50 

 (209-216) (two specimens from Imperial County, California). Juvenile 

 plumage: Head and neck feathered, save for region about base of bill in front 

 of eyes, and top of head between eyes, which are continuously naked; feathers 

 of head and neck grayish brown, approaching brownish black on hind neck 

 and sides of neck; otherwise as in adult, but with black portions of plumage 

 showing less of metallic sheen. Natal plumage: Not known to us. 



Makks roR FIELD IDENTIEICATION — Large size (over three feet tall when 

 standing), white plumage, black tail and wing tips, bare forehead, heavy bill 

 down-curved towards tip, and long stout legs. 



Voice — Usually silent; call-note: croak, croak, croaJc (Coues, 1874, p. 515). 

 Utters a ' ' rough guttural croaking note ' ' when frightened (Baird, Brewer and 

 Eidgway, 1884, I, p. 84). 



Nest — In tall trees in dense cypress swamps; a, platform of sticks loosely 

 arranged and lined with moss. 



Eggs — 3, elongate or elliptical ovate in shape, measuring in inches, 2.57 to 

 3.12 by 1.77 to 1.92 (in millimeters, 65.2 to 79.3 by 45.0 to 48.7), and averag- 

 ing 2.75 by 1.84 (69.9 by 46.7) ; color white, without surface gloss (nine eggs 

 in U. S. National Museum from Florida). 



General distribution — Temperate and tropical America from southern 

 ■California, Arizona, Texas, Ohio Valley, and South Carolina south to Argentina; 

 casual north to Montana, Wisconsin, New York, and Vermont (A. O. U. Check- 

 list, 1910, p. 93). 



