THE GLOSSY-IBIS THE ANI, 327 



The social and singular Ani (") was there, 

 In whose nest many females obtain oft a share. 

 The fleet Courier-Pheasant ran swiftly along ; 

 With a serpent the Crested immers'd in the throng. 



hatched, are said to be black, then grey, then whitish, and, 

 lastly, scarlet. 



The Igneus, or Glossy-Ibis, has the head and neck black ; 

 bill and legs green ; body varied with glossy-blue, blackish- 

 green, green and claret ; beneath dark rufous ; quill and tail 

 feathers green-gold ; thirteen inches long 5 inhabits Russia : 

 was once shot in Cornwall ; it has also been seen in Norfolk. 



(") Order, Picae, (Linn.) Ani, the Lesser, the Greater, 

 the Varied, the Walking. 



The genus CrotopHaga, or Ani, consists of four species, 

 all natives of South America ; they have a compressed semi-oval 

 arched bill, carinate on the back ; upper mandible angular at 

 each edge ; nostrils pervious. They are as follow: 



The Ani, or Lesser-Ani, is blackish violet, feet formed for 

 climbing ; thirteen and a half inches long ; gregarious, many 

 females laying in the same nest, each taking care of its own 

 brood ; eggs sea-green, spotted towards the ends ; feeds on 

 fruits, seeds, worms, and insects; picks out the acarns, or tick, 

 from the backs of cattle infested with it, for which purpose it is 

 said they will lie down spontaneously. The Major, or Greater- 

 Ani, is also blackish-violet, the feathers edged with green; 

 quill feathers dusky green ; feet scansorial like the last ; length 

 eighteen inches ; docile and easily tamed ; inhabits Cayenne. 

 The Varia, or Varied-Ani, is varied with black and red ; feet 

 seansorial ; eleven inches long. The Ambulatoria, or Walking- 

 Ani, has the feet ambulatory ; except in the structure of the 

 feet, is like the last ; inhabits Surinam. 



