ibis. 189 



This is the account given by a gentleman who is an expe- 

 rienced sportsman of that country; and we are also informed 

 that the fact of the Ibis breeding in that locality every year in 

 great numbers is so familiar, that every child is aware of it. 

 The flight of the Ibis is very peculiar, especially during its 

 migration, when such numbers of them may be seen on the 

 wing, that they are rarely to be counted ; and each flock or 

 flight moves on in a single string abreast, that is to say, they 

 fly side by side, and so close together as almost to touch the 

 tips of each other's wings. When the numbers are great, 

 the string forms a waving line ; if not very numerous, they 

 keep a straight front. This peculiarity shews at once what 

 birds they are, even if they fly too high to be in other respects 

 distinguishable. 



Some nine or ten years ago, late in September, we observed 

 such a flight pass over Fairmile Common, near Cobham, 

 in Surrey ; the order, or line, in which they travelled, as well 

 as their long arched beaks, drew our attention. We were 

 not at that time aware that we were contemplating the flight 

 of birds so rare, but took them for the more common curlew. 



The food of the Ibis consists of aquatic insects and their 

 larvse, worms, beetles, crickets, snails, and muscles, small frogs 

 and small fishes. The manner in which this species obtains 

 its food is by wading among the black, soft mud of swamps, 

 but not, or at least rarely, along any firm gravelly or sandy 

 bank of lake, pond, or river ; and they are not unfrequently led 

 so far out of their depth, or footing, that they are obliged to 

 swim or flounder back again in haste. 



The nature of the Ibis is shy, and the bird is consequently 

 not easily brought down by fire-arms ; and the ground it fre- 

 quents is only to be crossed with difficulty and danger, and 

 hardly ever without water-boots. 



p 2 



