Genus I. — IBIS, Cuv. IBIS. 
Bill very long, slender, higher than broad, compressed, tapering, arched, 
obtuse; upper mandible with the dorsal line arched in its whole length, the 
ridge convex, broader towards the end, the sides at the base erect, towards 
the end very convex and narrow, separated in their whole length from the 
ridge by a deep narrow groove, the edges inflected and sharp ; lower man- 
dible more slender, its angle very narrow, and protracted in the form of a 
groove to the tip. Nostrils basal, dorsal, linear. Head small, compressed, 
oblong, bare before the eyes ; neck long and slender ; body rather slender. 
Feet very long, slender ; tarsi scutellate ; anterior toes connected by mem- 
branes at the base. Claws rather small, slightly arched, pointed. Wings 
long, ample, with the second quill longest. Tail short, nearly even, of 
twelve feathers. Oesophagus wide, like that of a Heron ; stomach mus- 
cular. 
GLOSSY IBIS. 
Ibis Falcinellus, Linn. 
PLATE COOLYIII.— Male. 
The first intimation of the existence of this beautiful species of Ibis 
within the limits of the United States is due to Mr. George Ord, of Phila- 
delphia, the friend and companion of the celebrated Alexander Wilson. 
It was described by him in the first volume of the Journal of the Academy 
of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. He states that “on the seventh of May 
of the present year (1817), Mr. Thomas Say received from Mr. Oram, of 
Great Egg Harbour, a fine specimen of Tantalus, which had been shot 
there. It is the first instance which has come to my knowledge of this 
