50 



Genus I.— IBIS, Cuv. IBIS. 



Bill very long, slender, higher than broad, compressed, tapering, arched, 

 obtuse; upper mandible with the dorsal line arched in its whole length, the 

 ridge convex, broader towards the end, the sides at the base erect, towards 

 the end very convex and narrow, separated in their whole length from the 

 ridge by a deep narrow groove, the edges inflected and sharp; lower man- 

 dible more slender, its angle very narrow, and protracted in the form of a 

 groove to the tip. Nostrils basal, dorsal, linear. Head small, compressed, 

 oblong, bare before the eyes; neck long and slender; body rather slender. 

 Feet very long, slender; tarsi scutellate; anterior toes connected by mem- 

 branes at the base. Claws rather small, slightly arched, pointed. Wings 

 long, ample, with the second quill longest. Tail short, nearly even, of 

 twelve feathers. (Esophagus wide, like that of a Heron; stomach muscular. 



GLOSSY IBIS. 



~ Ibis Falcinellus, Linn. 



PLATE CCCLVIIL— Male. 



The first intimation of the existence of this beautiful species of Ibis 

 within the limits of the United States is due to Mr. George Ord of Phila- 

 delphia, the friend and companion of the celebrated Alexander Wilson. 

 It was described by him in the first volume of the Journal of the Academy 

 of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. He states that "on the seventh of May 

 of the present year (1817), Mr. Thomas Say received from Mr. Oram, of 

 Great Egg Harbour, a fine specimen of Tantalus, which had been shot 

 there. It is the first instance which has come to my knowledge of this 



