82 THE CONDOR Vol. XX 



sons to pass within thirty yards of it. As Dr. Russell is well versed in ornitholo- 

 gy as well as in entomology, there is every reason to regard his identification as 

 correct. Of conrse the question can always be raised as to any one's being able 

 positively to identify this bird in the field. 



On August 14, 1913, Mr. J. W. Woods, of Houston, who is familiar with 

 the Spoonbill, saw, on the islands opposite Sylvan Beach, a red wading bird 

 which he identified as a Scarlet Ibis. His identification, however, was made at 

 a distance of 300 yards. 



Such evidence as illustrated in the last three instances quoted could be ex- 

 tended, and there is much less reason for questioning it than when some noisy 

 sport rents a gun and goes out for a day, coming back with a good story in lieu 

 of game. One such man would do much more advertising than Mr. Jones, Dr. 

 Russell or Mr. Woods. It is not surprising that discerning people in general 

 listen to all reports of strange birds with disinterested indifference. 



Mr. I. N. Heibner, of Houston, reports seeing two of these birds in the last 

 five years. Four years ago his hunting partner killed a Scarlet Ibis. This speci- 

 men, a medium-sized male, was mounted and placed on exhibition at the Isch Ga 

 Bibble Bar. When the business changed hands Mr. Max Brock got possession of 

 the bird and took it to his home. Though the bird had been poorly mounted and 

 was in a bad state of preservation, Mr. Brock refused to part with it. 



No less than nine mounted specimens of the Scarlet Ibis can be accounted 

 for: two in Houston, two in San Antonio, three in Galveston, one in Rockport 

 and one in Corpus Christi. Of this number, the one (see fig. 10) in the Attwater 

 exhibit at the City Auditorium, Houston, is the most available of the really au- 

 thentic birds. This exhibit is open to the public every day. It was prepared 

 with great care by Professor Attwater and sold to the Progressive League at a 

 nominal price. Afterwards the city was induced to take over the exhibit and it 

 was lodged at the City Hall ; later it was removed to the City Auditorium. The 

 other specimen in Houston seems to be quite as authentic, as regards capture in 

 Texas. 



One of the San Antonio specimens is at the Elks Club and while complete 

 data can not be had, it seems to have been taken near Aransas Pass. The other 

 one was at the Plaza Bar and there was no available data. ' ' Bar-room ornitholo- 

 gy" differs materially from scientific ornithology. 



Of the three specimens at Galveston, one is in a curio shop and the other two 

 are in bar rooms. At one time there was a taxidermist in Galveston who did a 

 thriving business furnishing stuffed birds, especially ducks and geese, to sports- 

 men who wanted to take some trophies back home. A man could come there and 

 spend a week at the hotel, loafing and playing cards, then buy some mounted 

 birds or fish and get a good write-up in his home papers. It has not proven 

 possible to get data for any of the Galveston birds. 



There is no authentic data available for the specimen at Rockport. The one 

 that is on display at a sporting goods store at Corpus Christi was probably killed 

 on Corpus Christi Bay, but it has been on hand a long time and even the year in 

 which it was killed cannot be definitely fixed. 



It seems that to call a bird rare is equivalent to marking it for destruction. 

 There is no doubt that in many cases the report that a Scarlet Ibis was to be seen 

 along the coast, caused men to get their guns and go out to look for it. Even dis- 

 cussion such as the present, if widely circulated, may serve only to hasten exter- 

 mination. 



Houston, Texas, January 5, 1918. 



