STORKS AND IBISES 71 



[SCARLET IBIS: Giiara rubra (Linnaeus). 



The scarlet ibis occurs in the United States merely as a straggler, 

 having been recorded from Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, 

 and Florida. The only record from Alabama is the very indefinite 

 one of Nuttall, who says: "They migrate in the course of the summer 

 (about July and August) into Florida, Alabama, Georgia and South 

 Carolina."t] 



[GLOSSY IBIS: Plegadis faleinellus (Linnaeus).* 



The glossy ibis, once widely distributed in both hemispheres, is now 

 rare and local in the Southeastern States, where it has been recorded 

 from Florida and Louisiana. It doubtless occurred formerly and may 

 still be found in Alabama.] 



STORKS AND WOOD IBISES: Family Ciconiidae. 



WOOD IBIS ; GOURDHEAD : Myeteria americana 

 Linnaeus. 



State records. — Nuttall refers to the wood ibis as "not un- 

 common in Mississippi, Alabama, Carolina, and Georgia."t 

 In the note book of Dr. W. C. Avery I find a record of the 

 capture of a specimen at Cockes Pond, 5 miles west of Greens- 

 boro, on July 26, 1891, and the further note, "Seen some years 

 ago." It was reported by C. E. Pleas to breed at Chipley, 

 Florida, in 1903, so may possibly be found breeding in south- 

 eastern Alabama. 



General habits. — The wood ibis breeds in colonies, usually 

 in tall cypress trees ; at other seasons it may be found either 

 singly or in loose flocks, feeding in shallow, muddy pools in 

 the woods or on marshy meadows. Audubon mentions having 

 seen flocks composed of several thousands. The birds are 

 strong flyers, often ascending in spirals to a great height and 

 sailing in graceful circles for a considerable period. 



Food habits. — ^Audubon states that the wood ibis feeds on 

 small fish, frogs, aquatic reptiles, and young alligators, which 

 it procures in muddy lakes or bayous by stirring up the mud 

 with its feet and spearing the animals as they come to the 

 surface.** 



JNuttall, T., Manual of Ornith., water birds, pp. 84-85. 1834. 



*Plegadis autumnalij of the A. O. U. Check-list; for cbanse of name see The Auk, 

 vol. 40, p. 616, 1928. . . 



tNuttall, Thos., Manual ornithology, water birds, p. 83, 1834. 

 ♦•Audubon, J. J., Ornith. Biog., vol. 3, p. 129, 1835. 



