6&2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 
232. Black Stork. Ciconia nigra. 
Ciconia nigra (L.). (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 142. — N. Europe). 
Apparently a rather rare winter visitor ; Gumming obtained one at Eao on 
September 5th, Magratb saw it near Amara on May 20tb and there are a few 
records in winter. 
233- Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia. 
Platalea leucorodia major. Tern, and Schl. (Faun. Jap. Av. p. 119, 
1849 — Japan). 
The Spoonbill is either resident, or perhaps a summer visitor to Mesopotamia 
as we have no records between November 1 st and the end of March. It is common 
in the marshes of the Euphrates and Tigris moving about locallj' as its food supply 
directs. A good many flocks are recorded in these marshes during the breeding 
season and it may possibly breed there ; it certainly breeds somewhere as Gum- 
ming had a number of eggs brought him at Fao said to have come from Khor 
Moosa and the Abdulla Banks whence Armstrong also obtained eggs on May 
20th. 
No specimens were obtained, but those Gumming got at Fao were examined 
by Mr. Ogilvie Grant and were referred to this larger eastern race. 
234. Glossy Ibis. Plegadis falcinellus. “Slindei.” 
Plegadis falcinellus falcinellus (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. xii, p. 24, 1766 — 
Austria). 
The status of this species is obscure and records are not very numerous ; 
perhaps it is resident. Near Amara Buxton noted it in February, April, May 
and August and says it probably breeds. It is recorded in fair numbers at Kurna 
in January. It is noted as common near Baghdad from July to September and 
Magratb found it common in the Suweikiyeh marsh in August where it was “evi- 
dently breeding .” 
Buxton obtained one skin. 
235. Red cheeked Ibis. Comatibis emerita. 
Comatihis emerita (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 118, 1758 — Switzerland). 
It would seem that this Ibis is but a straggler to our part of Mesopotamia ; 
Logan Home saw a few near Tekrit in February and thought it might breed in 
theFatah Gorge cliffs or in the higher rocky hills of the Jebel Hamrin, but there is 
no evidence that it does so. Gheesman who went all over the Fatah Gorge in the 
breeding season and w'as at Tekrit in every month of the year failed to find it ; 
however one was shot at Tekrit by Aldworth. There is of course a very well 
known colony at Beredjik consisting, so Weigold estimated in 1912, of a thousand, 
whence they wander out to other places, such as Bambudj, fifty miles south. 
One was brought home alive to the Zoo from Beredjik by Gapt. E. H. 
Buxton. The bird is considered sacred by the Arabs. 
336. White Ibis. Threskiornis sethiopicus. 
Threskioniis cethiopicus (Lath.) (Ind. Orn. ii., p. 706, 1790 — Africa). 
White Ibises certainly occur and not very uncommonly in the district from 
Amara to Fao ; but there are no records from Baghdad and northwards. All 
records relate to the winter months and to small flocks seen, except that Logan 
Home records them jiaired off in Amara marshes but gives no date. Gumming 
says they are plentiful and Fao in winter and obtained one there on October 
25th (recorded as melanocephala. Ibis. 1891, p. 1 1.1). Hartert ( Vog. Pal. Faun., p. 
1226) states that the Sacred Ibis (T/i. aethiopicus) occurs at Fao and Zarudny 
mentions it (.J. F. 0., 1911, p. 231) as a very rare vagrant to the South Gaspian 
region. Mr. Kinnear therefore has been kind enough to hunt up Gumming’s bird 
