IBIS. 



265 



(Tantalus viridis,) to be the first or young bird ; and the Glossy Ibis, 

 (Tantalus igneus,) and all its variations, to be the intermediate ap- 

 proaches towards maturity. When the green variety begins to assume 

 the copper or vinaceous colour on the wing coverts, it is then no other 

 than the Glossy Ibis ; and when further advanced, and the strong cast 

 of bay appears about the head and neck, then it has been termed the 

 Bay Ibis. All these varieties, with the several shades and intermediate 

 gradations, have within these few years been shot in England. 



Two in our collection, shot in Devonshire, are in their first plumage, 

 with very little variation. Another, shot within these two or three 

 years near Liverpool, and now in the collection of Lord Stanley, varies 

 but little from what has been called the Glossy Ibis. One in Mr. 

 Cumming's collection, shot also in Devonshire, in 1805, nearly at the 

 same time as one of ours, is not very dissimilar to the green variety. 

 That killed in Anglesea, and figured in the Naturalist's Miscellany for 

 the Brazilian curlew, is very nearly, if not quite, in the plumage of the 

 variety called the Glossy Ibis ; but the vinaceous copper on the wing is 

 too highly coloured for the bird it is intended to represent. 



This species, like all the long, soft-billed birds, have their vernal and 

 autumnal migrations ; hence in the spring they go to the less inhabited 

 parts of the north, where they find security about the rivers and inte- 

 rior lakes to propagate, after which they retire from a country which 

 no longer affords them food, and spread over the southern parts of 

 Europe, and many probably pass the Mediterranean, and enter Africa 

 and Asia. It is remarkable that rarely, if ever, any instance has 

 occurred of this and some other species of European birds having been 

 observed to visit England in the spring. This, however, must be 

 accounted for by supposing that birds in their vernal migrations ap- 

 proach their places of summer destination gradually, and not by long 

 flights ; consequently are not likely to have their latitudinal course 

 varied by storms : besides, the vernal equinox is not so productive of 

 violent gales of wind, nor indeed would such blow them to England, 

 when on their passage from the south to the north of Europe, because 

 they pass over land the whole way, and can alight when distressed. 

 On the contrary, those who have spread into Denmark, Sweden, and 

 perhaps Lapland, to breed, frequently remain till actually compelled to 

 leave those more frigid climes, and take long flights in nearly a southern 

 direction; and thus if an autumnal equinoctial gale should overtake 

 them, some are driven from their course, and obliged, after passing a 

 part of the north sea, to rest and recruit in England. This will account 



