WHITE IBIS. 
95 
cessant. My venerable friend, in his observations on these birds 
adds, “It is a pleasing sight at times of high winds, and heavy 
thunder storms, to observe the numerous squadrons of these 
Spanish Curlews, driving to and fro, turning and tacking about 
high up in the air, when by their various evolutions in the 
different and opposite currents of the wind, high in the clouds, 
their silvery white plumage gleams and sparkles like the bright- 
est crystal, reflecting the sunbeams that dart upon them between 
the dark clouds.” 
The White Ibis is twenty-three inches long, and thirty-seven 
inches in extent; bill formed exactly like that of the scarlet 
species, of a pale red, blackish towards the point; face a reddish 
flesh colour and finely wrinkled; irides whitish; whole plumage 
pure white, except about four inches of the tips of the four 
outer quill feathers, which are of a deep and glossy steel blue; 
legs and feet pale red, webbed to the first joint. 
These birds I frequently observed standing on tbe dead limbs 
of trees, and on the shore, resting on one leg, their body in an 
almost perpendicular position, as represented in the figure, the 
head and bill resting on tbe breast. This appears to be its most 
common mode of resting, and perhaps sleeping, as in all those 
which I examined the plumage on the upper ridge of the neck 
and upper part of the back, was evidently worn by this habit. 
The same is equally observable on the neck and back of the 
Wood Ibis. 
The present species rarely extends its visits north of Carolina, 
and even in that state is only seen for a few weeks towards the 
end of summer. In Florida they are common; but seldom remove 
to any great distance from the sea. 
