GLOSSY IBIS. 
41 
an inclined but straight flight, and then describing a wide spiral, 
the whole flock are heard to cry out in a loud tone, their voice 
resembling that of Geese : finally having reached what they con¬ 
sider the proper height, taking a horizontal direction, they soon 
disappear from the sight: their flight is vigorous and elevated, 
their pectoral muscles being very thick: they fly with the neck 
and legs extended horizontally, like most Waders, and as they 
float along, send forth from time to time a low and very hoarse 
sound. Their food consists chiefly of small aquatic testaceous 
mollusca, and they do not disdain such small worms and insects 
as they may meet with : they are supposed to live chiefly on 
Leeches, (whence their Tuscan name Mignattajo,) but erroneously, 
none of these having ever been found in their stomachs either 
by Prof. Savi or myself. From what is observed in Europe, the 
regular migration of these birds appears to be in the diiection of 
south-west and north-east. Every circumstance leads to the 
belief that they come to us in central Italy through Sardinia and 
Corsica from the coasts of Barbary, and continue their journey 
hence to the vast marshes of eastern Europe and the Caspian 
Sea, where they are well known to breed, though nothing is yet 
ascertained of their mode of propagation. Be this as it may, the 
Glossy Ibis in the north and west of Europe is a very rare bird, 
and merely a straggler, whilst it is common at its passage in 
Poland, Hungary, southern Russia, Turkey and Greece, especially 
the islands of the Archipelago. It is found also in Austria and 
Bavaria, and in other parts of Germany, especially on the Da¬ 
nube ; and occasionally near the lakes of Switzerland, but hardly 
ever in Holland, the north of France, or England. * In Sweden it 
is also met with, though extremely rare: it has been observed in 
Gothland, along the marshes of the interior parts of the Island, 
and been killed in Scania: it is registered among the rare birds 
that visit Iceland. It has been found common along the rivers of 
VOL. iv. —l 
