The Wood Ibis 



goes to his accustomed hunting-ground with strong, sure flight. These 

 birds do not often wait for the game to come to them, as is the habit of that 

 patient fisherman, the Great Blue Heron, but they move about with 

 lowered head and outstretched neck, industriously searching for slugs, 

 frogs, tadpoles, beetles, and their kin. Even field mice are sometimes 

 caught by a rapid run and a flashing stroke. 



These little Bitterns are not guilty of any such outlandish noises as 

 those produced by the "bog bull." Their only notes are a low qua, when 

 flushed or frightened; or a short, hoarse croak of greeting or inquiry; and 

 during the breeding season a subdued and labored coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, 

 which proceeds, without doubt, from the male bird. 



They do not nest in colonies exactly, but a favorable stretch of tules or 

 cat-tails is likely to contain several nests scattered about. We found three 

 with three eggs each at Dos Palos on the 23rd of May, 1912, and three 

 more near Los Banos, May 30, 1914. The nests are composed of cat-tail 

 leaves laid flatwise, and are either built up out of the muck or shallow 

 water to a height of a foot or more, or else lodged midway on the growing 

 plants. In the latter case, the broken-down tops of the reeds are used as a 

 basis, and the shallow platform thus formed is lined with green leaves and 

 sedges, or even fine sticks. The eggs are almost equal-ended, and are of a 

 delicate bluish white tint. The four eggs of one set which I examined 

 were disposed in a straight row, as if accommodated to the narrow and 

 elongated breast of the bird. According to Dr. Abbott, the youngsters 

 when hatched are scantily covered with a pale buffy down, interspersed 

 with white hairs as long as the bird itself. They are unusually active 

 and vivacious, and learn to shift for themselves much sooner than the 

 young of the tree-nesting herons. 



No. 390 



Wood Ibis 



A. O. U. No. 188. Mycteria americana (Linnaeus). 



Synonyms. — American Wood Stork. "Colorado Turkey." 



Description. — Adult: General color pure white; alula, wing-quills, primary- 

 coverts, and tail black, with greenish luster; lining of wings pale rose-pink (in breeding 

 plumage only); head and upper neck bald, the rough skin livid blue and yellowish. 

 Bill dingy yellow; legs dull blue, blackening on toes, the partial webs yellow; iris brown. 

 Young birds are dingy white, with tail and wings blackish, and the head is covered, 

 except anteriorly, with sooty gray down-like feathers. Length of male up to 1143 

 (45.00); wing 482.6 (19.00); tail 152.4 (6.00); bill 228.6 (9.00); tarsus 203.2 (8.00). 

 Female smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Goose to giant size; black-and-white plumage, swamp- 

 haunting habits, sailing flight, powerful beak, decurved near tip, distinctive. 



IQ22 



