SPECIES 3. TANTALUS ALBUS. 
WHITE IBIS. 
[Plate LXVL— Fig. 3.] 
Le Courli blanc du Bresil, Buiss. v, p. 339, 10. — Buff, viii, p. 
41. Cuurly blanc d^Jlmerique, PI. Enl. 915. — White Curlew, 
Cat ESBY, r, pi. 82. — Lath. Syn. iii, j)' 1 1 1, tA^o. 9. — Jlrct. Zool. 
No. 363.* 
This species bears in every respect, except that of colour, so 
strong a resemblance to the preceding, that I have been almost 
induced to believe it the same, in its white or imperfect stage 
of colour. The length and form of the bill, the size, conforma- 
tion, as well as colour of the legs, the general length and breadth, 
and even the steel blue on the four outer quill feathers, are ex- 
actly alike in both. These suggestions, however, are not made 
with any certainty of its being the same; but as circumstances 
which may lead to a more precise examination of the subject 
hereafter. 
I found this species pretty numerous on the borders of lake 
Pontchartrain, near New Orleans, in the month of June, and 
also observed the Indians sitting in market with strings of them 
for sale. I met with them again on the low keys or islands off 
the peninsula of Florida. Mr. Bartram observes that ‘Hhey 
fly in large flocks or squadrons, evening and morning, to and 
from their feeding places or roosts, and are usually called Spa- 
nish Curlews. They feed chiefly on cray fish, whose cells they 
probe, and with their strong pinching bills drag them out. ” The 
low islands above mentioned abound with these creatures and 
small crabs, the ground in some places seeming alive with them, 
so that the rattling of their shells against one another was in- 
* Tantalus albus, Lath. Ind- Orn. p. 705, JVo. 9. — Gmel. Syst. p. 651. JVb. 6. 
