WHITE IBIS. 
57 
plumage, from tlie male, or what changes both undergo 
the first and second years, I am unable to 
say 
a scarce species 
lom personal observation. Being 
'itU Us, and only found on our most remote southern 
'Oi’es, a sufficient number of specimens hav'e not been 
floured, to enable me to settle this matter with 
“'ifficieut certainty. 
214 . IBIS ALBA, TIFILL. TANTALUS ALSUS, WILSON. 
WHITE IBIS. 
WILSONj PLATE LXVl. FIG. III. 
c species bears in every respect, except that of 
j j'’ur, so strong a resemblance to the preceding, that 
it lieeu almost induced to believe it the same, in 
for" stage of colour. The length and 
of tl <'onforraation, as well as colour 
tiip ^ legs, the general length and breadth, and even 
lilue on the four outei- quill-feathers, are exactly 
hial^ *'*• These suggestions, however, are not 
cir.* "*'^^1* uny certainty of its being the same, but as 
m:';“'V'«tan('es which may lead to a more precise exa- 
mion of the .subject hereafter. 
QfT 'j’*od this species pretty numerous on the borders 
of j Pontchartrain, near N<!w Orleans, in the month 
^.i,l'‘"'‘> und also observed the Indians sitting ill market 
on ®1' t'“‘m hn- sale. 1 met with them again 
FW i! or islands off the Peninsula of 
flocl-**' Bart ram observes, that “they fly in large 
tbei'.*f®’ squadrons, evening and morning, to and from 
®‘l‘OK places or roosts, and are nsually called 
tell tl They feed cbielly on Cray fish, whose 
drair tl ^ ptobe, and, with their strong pinching bills, 
abo'i 1 1""' l^^lauds above mentioned 
ill s ® these creatures and small crabs, the ground 
ratti®'®® places seeming alive with them, so that the 
Mv their shells against one another was incessant. 
a(ijT®’*®*'®kle triend, in his observations on these birds, 
’ “ It is a pleasing sight at times of high winds. 
