LECTURE VI. 229 



out of the water, observe a large distention in 

 their bodies ; and their ordinary note is but like 

 that of a raven." 



The Hudson's Bay Bittern or American Bittern, 

 elegantly figured in the works of Edwards, is very 

 nearly allied to the English Bittern, but of rather 

 smaller size. The Ardea minuta, or Smallest 

 Bittern, is not much larger than a Thrush, and 

 has been sometimes found in England. 



The genus of birds called Tantalus claims our 

 attention, from its having been supposed to con- 

 tain the celebrated bird called the Ibis, so much 

 esteemed by the ancient Egyptians, for its useful 

 quality in destroying various troublesome reptiles 

 and other animals. The Linneean genus Tantalus 

 is distinguished by having a long, curved bill, not 

 sharpened, but rather slightly rounded at the tip ; 

 and the front or fore-part of the face is covered 

 by a bare skin. One of the handsomest species 

 is the T. Ruber or scarlet Ibis, a native of South- 

 America, and entirely of a most brilliant scarlet 

 colour, except the tips of the wings, which are 

 black : its size is that of a common fowl. 



The Egyptian Ibis has generally been sup- 



