140 
IBIDXNJE. IBIS. 
muscular coat very thick, the lateral muscles being distinct, 
the epithelium dense, thick, and longitudinally rugous ; in- 
testine rather long, of moderate width ; coeca very small, 
cylindrical ; cloaca globular. Nostrils linear or oblong, sub- 
basal, in the fore part of the narrow bare basal membrane. 
Eyes rather small. Aperture of ear very small. Legs long, 
and rather slender ; tibia bare for a considerable space, and 
reticulated ; tarsus rather long, reticulate in the larger spe- 
cies, scutellate in the smaller, or partially reticulate and 
scutellate ; toes four, rather long, moderately stout, the first 
large, and articulated on the same plane ; all scutellate in 
their whole length, flattened beneath, the anterior webbed 
at the base ; claws short or moderate, slender, compressed, 
arched, acute. Head partially or entirely bare ; plumage 
moderate ; wings large, of about twenty-five quills, the third 
generally longest, some of the inner secondaries elongated ; 
tail short, or moderate, even or rounded, of twelve broad 
feathers. 
The sexes are alike in colour, the female smaller ; the 
young differently coloured, and with the head feathered. 
These birds belong to the tropical regions of both continents, 
some migrating into the colder. They resemble the Herons 
in their modes of walking and flying. 
229. Ibis Falcinellus. Glossy Ibis. 
Head feathered, excepting the loral spaces. Adult with 
the feathers of the head and neck lanceolate and glossy ; the 
neck, breast, and fore part of the back deep chestnut- red ; the 
hind part of the back, wings, and tail green, glossed with 
bronze and purple ; the plumage in general with silky lustre. 
Young with the feathers of the head and neck oblong, soft, 
without gloss, each with two marginal white streaks ; the 
lower parts deep dull brown, the upper glossy green, tinged 
with bronze and purple. 
Male, 24, . ., ll-g-, 5-J, 3 T 5 ^-, 2 T S 2 -, 
Dispersed from India and Egypt to Siberia and the northern 
parts of Europe, and occurring in America. Like the White 
Ibis, it was held in veneration by the ancient Egyptians, and is 
not unfrequently found preserved in their sepulchres. It was 
distinguished from that bird by the name of Black Ibis. It 
is one of the species that approach nearest in form to the 
