626 



AMERICAN JABIRU. 



(Mycteria Americana.) 



My. alba, remigihus rectricihiisque nigro-purpurasceyitihus. 

 White Jabiru, with the quills and tail-feathers of a purple-black. 

 Mycteria Americana, Linn, Syst, Nat, 1. 232. 1. — Gmel, Syst, 



Nat. 1. 6\Q.—Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. 670. 1. 

 Ciconia Brasiliensis. Briss. Orn, 5. 371. 4. 

 Jabiru-guacu. Raii. Syn, 96. 5. — Buff. Ois, 7. 282. pi. 13. — 



Buff. PI. Enl. 8 17. 

 American Jabiru. Lath. Gen, Syn, 5, 22. pi. 75. 



This bird is about the size of the common Stork : 

 its beak is black : the whole plumage is white, 

 except the head and about two-thirds of the neck, 

 which are destitute of feathers, and are of a dusky 

 hue ; the lower part of the neck is also naked, 

 and is of a fine red : on the hind head are a few 

 greyish feathers : the wings and tail are of a deep 

 purplish tint : the legs are strong, and covered 

 with black scales. The young are said to be grey 

 the first year, rose-colour the second, and pure 

 white the third. 



Inhabits the savannahs of Cayenne, Guiana, and 

 other parts of South America. It constructs its 

 nest in great trees, and lays two eggs. The young, 

 as well as the old birds, are very voracious, and 

 consume a great quantity of fish : they are very 

 wild : the young birds are frequently eaten, but 

 the old are very unpleasant food, being tough and 

 oily. 



