39 



WOOD IBIS. 

 TANTALUS LOCULATOR. 

 [Plate LXVL— Fig. 1.] 



Le grand Courli d'^merique, Biiiss. V, p. 358. 8 — Couricaccif Buff. TII, ji. 276. PL Enl 868.— 

 Catesb. I, SU-^Jlrct. Zool. Xo, 360 Lath, Syn. Ill, p. 104.— Peaie's Museum, Xo. 3862. 



THE Wood Ibis inhabits the lower parts of Louisiana, Ca- 

 rolina, and Georgia ; is very common in Florida, and extends as 

 far south as Cayenne, Brasil, and various parts of South America. 

 In the United States it is migratory; but has never, to my know- 

 ledge, been found to the north of Virginia. Its favorite haunts 

 are watery savannahs and inland swamps, where it feeds on fish 

 and reptiles. The French inhabitants of Louisiana esteem it good 

 eating. 



With the particular manners of this species I am not per- 

 sonally acquainted; but the following characteristic traits are given 

 of it by Mr. William Bartram, who had the best opportunities of 

 noting them. 



"This solitary bird," he observes, "does not associate in 

 flocks; but is generally seen alone, commonly near the banks of 

 great rivers, in vast marshes or meadows, especially such as are 

 covered by inundations, and also in the vast deserted rice planta- 

 tions; he stands alone, on the topmost limb of tall dead cypress 

 trees, his neck contracted or drawn in upon his shoulders, and his 

 beak resting like a long scythe upon his breast; in this pensive 

 posture, and solitary situation, they look extremely grave, sorrow- 

 ful and melancholy, as if in the deepest thought. They are never 

 seen on the sea coast, and yet are never found at a great distance 



