52 GLOSSY IBIS. 



South Florida and Texas, where it breeds. Rarely seen far inland. Mi- 

 gratory. 



Adult Male. 



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

 obtuse. Upper mandible with the dorsal line arched in its whole length, the 

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

 towards the end very convex and narrow, the ridge separated in its whole 

 length from the sides by a deep narrow groove, the edges inflected and sharp. 

 Nostrils basal, dorsal, linear, direct. Lower mandible more slender than the 

 upper, its angle very narrow, and protracted in the form of a groove to the 

 tip, the sides convex, the edges sharp, but strong and closely approximated, 

 bearing only a very narrow groove between them. 



Head small, compressed, oblong; neck long and slender; body slender, 

 deeper than broad; wings rather large. Feet very long, slender; tibia long, 

 bare about half its length, and covered all round with hexagonal scales; tarsi 

 long, slender, anteriorly covered with numerous broad scutella, laterally with 

 angular scales, beneath flattened, with thick soft margins; the anterior con- 

 nected at the base by membranes, of which the outer is large; claws rather 

 small, slightly arched, compressed, tapering, pointed, that of the middle toe 

 with a sharp thin edge. 



There is a bare space margining the forehead, occupying the part before the 

 eye, and extending a little beyond it. Feathers of the head and neck slender 

 lanceolate; those of the former glossy and compact, of the latter blended, as 

 are those of the breast and abdomen, which are ovate. The upper parts 

 highly glossed, with silky lustre, the feathers generally ovate and rounded. 

 Wings long, ample, the first primary a quarter of an inch shorter than the 

 second, which is two-twelfths longer than the third, the rest moderately 

 graduated; the first sinuate on the inner web near the end, the second less 

 deeply so; some of the inner secondaries elongated, but rounded, and when 

 the wing is closed an inch and ten-twelfths shorter than the longest primary. 

 Tail short, very slightly emarginate, of twelve rounded feathers. 



Bill black; bare part of the head greyish-blue; iris hazel; feet greyish- 

 black, claws brown. The upper part and sides of the head are dark glossy, 

 with purplish reflections. The neck, a portion of the back anteriorly, the 

 breast, abdomen, and legs, are of a deep rich brownish-red or dark chestnut; 

 part of the breast shaded with green, the sides dusky, tinged with green, as 

 are the lower wing-coverts, and lower tail-coverts. Excepting the anterior 

 edge of the wing, and the anterior scapulars, which are deep glossy brown- 

 ish-red, the upper parts are splendent dark green, glossed with purple; the 

 primaries black, shaded with green; the tail glossy with purple reflections. 



Length to end of tail 25 inches; to end of claws 30^; bill along the ridge 



