THE WOOD IBIS. 
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sea, the Florida - Keys for example, or in the most secluded parts of the 
darkest woods, provided they are swampy, or are furnished with ponds. 1 
have found the Wood, the Red, the White, the Brown, and the Glossy Ibises 
around ponds in the centre of immense forests ; and in such places, even in 
the desolate pine-barrens of the Floridas ; sometimes several hundred miles 
from the sea coast, on the Red river, in the State of Louisiana, and above 
Natchez, in that of Mississippi, as well as within a few miles of the ocean. 
Yet, beyond certain limits, I never saw one of these birds. 
One of the most curious circumstances connected with this species is, that 
although the birds are, when feeding, almost constantly within the reach of 
large alligators, of which they devour the young, these reptiles never attack 
them ; whereas, if a Duck or a Heron comes within the reach of their tails, 
it is immediately killed and swallowed. The Wood Ibis will wade up to its 
belly in the water, round the edges of <£ alligators’ holes,” without ever being- 
injured ; but should one of these birds be shot, an alligator immediately 
makes towards it and pulls it under water. The gar-fish is not so courteous, 
but gives chase to the Ibises whenever an opportunity occurs. The snap- 
ping-turtle is also a great enemy to the young birds of this species. 
The flight of the Wood Ibis is heavy at its rising from the ground. Its 
neck at that moment is deeply curved downward, its wings flap heavily but 
with great power, and its long legs are not stretched out behind until it 
has proceeded many yards. But as soon as it has attained a height of eight 
or ten feet, it ascends with great celerity, generally in a spiral direction, in 
silence if not alarmed, or, if frightened, with a rough croaking guttural note. 
When fairly on wing, they proceed in a direct flight, with alternate flappings 
and sailings of thirty or forty yards, the sailings more prolonged than the 
flappings. They alight on trees with more ease than Herons generally do, 
and either stand erect or crouch on the branches, in the manner of the Wild 
Turkey, the Herons seldom using the latter attitude. When they are at 
rest, they place their bill against the breast, while the neck shrinks as it 
were between the shoulders. In this position you may see fifty on the same 
tree, or on the ground, reposing in perfect quiet for hours at a time, although 
some individual of the party will be constantly on the look-out, and ready 
to sound the alarm. 
In the spring months, when these birds collect in large flocks, before they 
return to their breeding places, I have seen thousands together, passing over 
the woods in a line more than a mile in extent, and moving with surprising 
speed at the height of only a few yards above the trees. When a breeding 
place has once been chosen, it is resorted to for years in succession ; nor 
is it easy to make them abandon it after they have deposited their eggs, 
although, if much annoyed, they never return to it after that season. 
