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 Naturahst’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 
