110 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



187. WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS. Pleffadis yuaraana (Linn.) Geog. 

 Dist. — Western United States (Texas, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, California, etc.), south- 

 ward to Mexico, West Indies, Central and South America. 



This beautiful, lustrous Ibis inhabits southwestern United States and south into 

 tropical America. It is found as far north as Kansas, west through New Mexico and 

 Arizona to California. It is especially abundant in southern Texas, and in some 

 localities along the banks of the Rio Grande swarms by thousands. At this place 

 Dr. James C. Merrill, in company with Mr. G. B. Sennett, on the 16th of May, 1877, 

 visited a large patch of tule reeds, growing in a shallow lagoon about ten miles 

 from Fort Brown, in which large numbers of this Ibis and several kinds of Herons 

 were breeding. The reeds covered an area of perhaps seventy-five acres or less. Be- 

 sides the Ibises, the Great and Little White Egrets, Louisiana and Night Herons, 

 and several other birds were breeding here. The reeds grew about six feet above 

 the surface of the water, and were either beaten down to form a support for the 

 nests, or dead and partly floating stalks of the previous year were used for that pur- 

 pose. Dr. Merrill states that it was impossible to estimate the number of the Ibises 

 and different Herons nesting here. "Both nests and eggs of the Ibises were quite un- 

 like those of any of the Herons, and could be distinguished at a glance. The nests 

 w^ere made of broken bits of dead tules, supported by and attached to broken and up- 

 right stalks of living ones. They were rather well and compactly built, ai^d' were 

 usually well cupped, quite unlike the clumsy platforms of the Herons. The eggs 

 were nearly always three in number, and at this date were far advanced in incuba- 

 tion; 'many of the nests contained young of all sizes. Fifty eggs now before me 

 average 1.95x1.35, the extremes being 2.20x1.49 and 1.73x1.29; they are decidedly 

 pointed at the smaller end, and are of a deep bluish-green color." 



188. WOOD IBIS. Tantalus loculator Linn. Geog. Dist. — Southern United 

 States from Ohio Valley, Colorado, Utah, California, etc., soutn to Buenos Ayres; 

 casually northward to Pennsylvania and New Uork. 



The American Wood Stork, as it is called, is distributed over a large portion of 

 South and Central America, Mexico and Southern North America. It is found in all 

 the Gulf States, and is most abundant in Florida, where, Mr. Stuart informs me, it 

 nests in the interioi in dense cypress swamps, on the tallest trees, which are often 

 more than one hundred feet in height. In these rookeries are also found nesting the 

 American Egret, Ardea egretta; Great Blue Heron, A. herodias; the Anhinga and 

 others. The nests, like those of the Herons, are platforms of sticks loosely arranged, 

 with a lining of long moss. The same rookery is occupied each year, and the nests 

 are repaired and augmented until they often become of immense size. The eggs are 

 chalky- white, sometimes spotted with pale reddish-brown; somewhat elliptical. 

 The shell is rough, with a flaky substance. Two or three is the number laid, but 

 almost invariably three. Size from 2.70 to 2.75 long by 1.70 to 1.75 broad. 



[189.] JABIHTJ. Mycteria americana Linn. Geog. Dist. — Tropical America, 

 north casually to Southern Texas. 



This singular bird is known as the American Stork. It is found in portions of 

 Central America and throughout most of South America, but occurs rarely farther 

 north. One specimen is said to have been taken within the limits of the United 

 States, and that near Galveston, Texas. The bird is said to have the same genSral 

 habits peculiar to the White Stork of Europe. The nest is a large platform of sticks 

 built in the highest trees. An egg is described by Dr. Brewer as rounded-oval in 

 shape, and of an olive-green color; size 3.33x2.20. 



