162 ON THE IBIS. 



We see by this table that the ibis of Thebes was larger than our 

 curlew ; that one of the ibises of Saccara was of the medium"size be- 

 tween that of Tliebes and our curlew ; and that the other was smaller 

 than this latter bird. We observe also, that the different parts of the 

 body of the ibis have net the same proportions to each other as those 

 of the curlew have. The beak of the former, for instance, is re- 

 markably shorter, although all the other parts are larger, &c. 



Yet these differences of proportion do not go beyond what may dis- 

 tinguish the species of the same genus ; the form and character which 

 are to be considered as generic, are precisely similar. 



The true ibis, then, must be sought no longer amongst these tall 

 tantali with a sharp beak, but amongst the curlews ; and here we 

 should note that by the word curlew {courlis) we do not mean the 

 artificial genus formed by Latham and Gmelin, of all long-shanked 

 (echassiers) birds, with a beak curved downwards, and a head devoid 

 of plumage, whether their beak be rounded or sharp, but a natural 

 genus, which we shall call numenius, and which will include all the 

 long-shanked birds with beaks curved downwards, soft and rounded, 

 whether their head be devoid of, or covered with plumage. It is the 

 curlew genus, such as Buffon has imagined it*. 



A glance over the collection of birds in the king's cabinet enables us 

 to recognise a species which has not been yet either named or de- 

 scribed by authors of systems, except perhaps Mr. Latham, and which, 

 examined with care, will satisfy us as being the same with those which 

 the ancient monuments and mummies have given as the characteristics 

 of the ibis. 



We add an engraving of it. See Plate V. 



It is a bird rather larger than the curlew ; its beak is curved in a 

 manner similar to that of the curlew, but rather shorter, and much 

 thicker in proportion, a little flattened towards the base, and marked 

 at each side with a furrow which proceeds from the nostril to the 

 extremity, while in the curlew the corresponding furrow is effaced 

 before it reaches midway down the beak. The colon of this beak is 

 more or less black. The head and two-thirds of the beak are entirely 

 destitute of featheis, and the skin is black. The body feathers, those 

 of the wings and tail are white, with the exception of the ends of the 

 large wing-feathers, which are black ; the four last secondary feathers 

 have remarkably long beards, spread out, which fall upon the ends of the 

 wings when closed ; their colour is a brilliant black with a violet shade. 



* We have definitely established this genus in our ' Regne Animal,' vol. i, p. 483, 

 and it appears to have been adopted by naturalists. 



