56 
IBIS EUBRA. 
GENUS XLVII. — I£IS, Lacep. 
21o. mis ituiinAy vieii.l T-iutalus RuiiKJif wiLsoy. 
SCARLET IBIS. 
WILSON, PLATE LXVI. FIG. II. — EDINBHRGH COLLEGE MCSECJ!' 
This beautitiil bird is found in the most soutbcrS 
parts of Carolina, also in Georjfia and Florida, chioUf 
about the soa-sbore and its viciiiitj-. In most parts o! 
America, within the tropics, and in almost all the West 
India islands, it is said to be common; also in thf 
Bahamas. Ot its manners, little more has been collected, 
than that it fre(|uents the borders of the sea, and shores 
of the ncifthbourino- rivers, feeding on small fi y, shell 
fish, sea worms, and small crabs. It is said fref(ucntly 
to perch on trees, sometimes in larpe flocks; but to laf 
Its e^>';,i's on the ground, on a bed of leaves. I’he ei>-"S 
are described as beintf of a o-reeuish colour; the yoiin", 
when hatched, black ; soon after, gray ; and before th/v 
are able to ll)', white; continuing gradually to assume 
their red colour until the third year, ivhen the scarlet 
pliimajre is complete. It is also said that they usually 
keep in flocks, the young and old birds separately- 
They have freciuently been domesticated. 
The scarlet ibis meiusures tiventy-three inches in 
length, and thirty-seven in e.xtent; the bill is five inches 
long, thick, and somewhat of a square form at the base, 
gradually bent downwards, and sharply rid«-cd of » 
black colour, except near the base, where it iiiclincs to 
red; irides, dark hazel; the naked face is finely wrinkled, 
and of a pae red; chin, also bare and wnnklcd for 
about an inch ; whole plumage, a rich gloiving scarlet, 
except about three inches of the extremities of the 
four outer quill leathers, which are of a deep steel blue; 
legs and naked part of the thighs, jiale red, the three 
raterior toes united by a membrane as far as the first 
Joint. 
Whether the female differs, in the colour of her 
