WOOD IBIS. 455 



at the bend of the wing ; the primary coverts are also tipt 

 with the same ; wing-quills, dark slate ; breast, white, tinged 

 with ochre, under which lie a number of blackish feathers ; 

 belly and vent, white ; sides, pale ochre ; legs, greenish on the 

 shins, hind part and feet, yellow ; thighs, feathered to within 

 a quarter of an inch of the knees ; middle claw, pectinated ; 

 toes, tinged with pale green ; feet, large, the span of the foot 

 measuring two inches and three-quarters. Male and female, 

 nearly alike in colour. The young birds are brown on the 

 crown and back. The stomach was filled with small fish ; 

 and the intestines, which were extremely slender, measured in 

 length about four feet. 



The least bittern is also found in Jamaica, and several of 

 the West India islands. 



WOOD IBIS. (Tantalus loculator.) 



PLATE LXVI.— Fig. 1. 



Gmel. Syst. p. 647. — Le Grand Courly d'Amerique, Briss. v. p. 335, 8. — Couri- 

 caca, Buff. vii. p. 276, PL enl. 868.—Catesby, i. 81.— Arct. Zool. No. 360.— 

 Lath. Syn. iii. p. 104. — PeaWs Museum, No. 3832. 



TANTALUS LOCULATOB.-LwxMVS.* 

 Tantalus loculator, Bonap. Synop, p. 310. — Wagl. Syst. Av. No. 1. 



The wood ibis inhabits the lower parts of Louisiana, Caro- 

 lina, and Georgia ; is very common in Florida, and extends 



* This species, I believe peculiar to the New World, is extensively 

 dispersed over it, but migratory towards the north. The bird stated by 

 Latham as identical with this, from New Holland, will most probably 

 turn out the T. lacteus or leucocephalus ; at all events, distinct. The 

 genera Tantalus and Ibis run into each other in one of those gradual 

 marches where it is nearly impossible to mark the distinction ; yet, taking 

 the extremes, the difference is very great. Tantalus loculator is the only 

 American species of the former group, principally distinguished by the 

 base of the bill being equal in breadth with the forehead, which, with 

 the face, cheeks, and throat, are bare. In their general manner, they 

 are more sluggish than the ibis, and possess more of the inactivity of 

 the heron when gorged, or the sedate gait of the stork and adjutants. 



