Genus IBIS. 



Gen. Char. Beak lengthened, slender, arched, large at its base, depressed, obtuse, and rounded 

 at the point ; the upper mandible grooved throughout its whole length. Nostrils near the 

 base on the upper part of the beak, oblong, narrow, encircled by a membrane. Face 

 naked, as is often also a part of the head and neck. Legs moderate and slender, naked 

 above the knee. Toes three before and one behind ; the former being webbed as far as 

 the first joint ; the hind toe long, and resting closely on the ground. Wings moderate, the 

 first quill-feather shorter than the second and third, which are the longest. Tail short and 

 square. 



GLOSSY IBIS. 



Ibis Falcinellus, Temm. 

 L'Ibis Falcinelle. 



While every temperate and tropical country of the globe possesses various examples of this widely spread 

 genus, the present species is the only one, as far as is known, which passes over the border line of Africa and 

 Asia, and takes up its residence in the Southern and temperate countries of Europe. The Glossy Ibis is 

 tolerably abundant in all the swampy and marshy districts of its south-eastern portions, particularly Hungary, 

 Turkey, and the Archipelago : it passes hence, but in much less abundance and at uncertain intervals, to the 

 more central and western portions ; and occurs, though very rarely, in Holland and the British Islands. 

 Along the course of the Nile and in the adjacent provinces of x4frica, this handsome bird appears to find a 

 most congenial situation, and is as abundant there at the present day as it was in ancient times, when it was 

 regarded as sacred, and embalmed equally with the Ibis religiosus, or Abouhannes of Bruce. 



As is the case with the other birds of its tribe, the food of the Glossy Ibis consists of worms, slugs, lizards, 

 freshwater mollusca, and aquatic vegetables. 



The graceful proportions of this bird, the elegance of its actions, together with the resplendent lustre of 

 its plumage, render it one of the most interesting of the Waders, and we have to regret that our knowledge of 

 its habits and manners are so imperfect, that of its nidification and eggs we can give no certain information. 



The sexes offer but little difference of colouring : the young, on the contrary, before the second or third 

 year, at which period they attain their adult colouring, are much more obscure in their tints, and exhibit none 

 of that metallic lustre which afterwards forms so characteristic a feature. 



The adult birds have the head of a dark chestnut ; the neck, breast, top of the back, the upper edge of the 

 wing, and all the under parts of a rich reddish chestnut ; the lower part of the back, the rump, quill- and tail- 

 feathers of a dark green, with bronze and purple reflections ; the naked skin round the eyes olive green, 

 becoming more grey towards the outer margin ; the irides brown ; legs and feet dull olive brown. 



In the young, the feathers, which are of a fine chestnut in the adults, exhibit faint indications only of this 

 colour, being of a dull brown, and each feather on the neck is edged with a margin of greyish white ; the 

 other parts display but little of the metallic reflections. 



The Plate represents an adult male about three fourths of the natural size. 



