42 
SCARLET IBIS. 
sharply ridged, of a black color, except near the base, where it in- 
clines to red ; irides dark hazel ; the naked face is finely wrinkled, 
and of a pale red ; chin also bare and wrinkled for about an inch ; 
whole plumage a rich glowing scarlet, except about three inches 
of the extremities of the four outer quill feathers, which are of a 
deep steel blue; legs and naked part of the thighs pale red; the 
three anterior toes united by a membrane as far as the first joint. 
Whether the female differs in the color of her plumage from 
the male, or what changes both undergo during the first and se- 
cond years, I am unable to say from personal observation. Being 
a scarce species with us, and only found on our most remote 
southern shores, a sufficient number of specimens have not been 
procured to enable me to settle this matter with sufficient certainty. 
It will be perceived in the following article that the author 
leaned to the opinion of the White Ibis and the present being iden- 
tical. In this opinion the editor would concur ; but as he cannot, 
at this time, have access to recent specimens, in order to determine 
the point, he will permit the name of albiis to remain, although 
fully persuaded of the species being nominal. 
It would appear that this species inhabits the western coast of 
America. In the Appendix to the History of Lewis and Clark’s 
Expedition, vol. II, p. 514, under the date of March 7, the Journa- 
list says, “ A bird of a scarlet color, as large as a common phea- 
sant, with a long tail, has returned ; one of them was seen to-day 
near the fort.” As all long-legged birds fly with their legs in a 
horizontal position, the legs of that above mentioned must have 
been mistaken for a tail. 
