^ F A L C IN E L LU S 1 IGNE US.
Glossy Ibis.
Tantalus Fal'cmettus, Linn., yoL i. p. 241.—Eath^Jnd1! Ora., voLMrapy —Gmel. Linn., vol. i. p. 648.—Penn.
$p%;5|p9i., vol. Ü,. p. 30.
Ibis Falcinellus, AMftaw y.. ■. Brit.Vert., p, 194.—Gould,
Birds QfEurppe, yol. xv.—Temm. Man. d^Qpi., tom. ii. p. 598.—Yarrell, Brit. Birds, vol. ii. p. 505.
Tantalus igneus| Gmel. Hist., yoI. ix. p. 154.
Falcinettus igneus, G. R. Gray, Gen. pfBfirds, 2nd<edit.,, pv 8%
present sgecjes rgsOpie of the few birds inhabiting both hemispheres; I believe that I have seen specimens
fronj^eprly eyery country o f the Old World, and it has also been found in every part of the vast continent
o f Australia at present known tofijs. I have observed examples in the collection’ formed by Mr.
Bynoe on the north coast, o t h e r s ® the collections lately transmitted to this country by the Governor of
Sjpllth Australia, and I possess others ohtained»in; !3New South Wales. A careful comparison o f all these
specimenf ^ith .others killed inEurope j^ |sagfie(^ ^ that they are identical. I never observed it in a
state o f nature myself, and from what I could learn fron^BerjeoJonists, its presence must be regarded as accidental;
it tis not a stationary species, nor are i^^^gr^tQry mjOvements characterized by any degree of
regularity.
; ^ jfeacfdark chestnut; n e c k , b r e a s t, top o f the^aeh.,;upper edge dffthe wing and ^® |']n n d e r surface
rich reddish chestnut; lower part of the back, rump, qu3@ n d tail-feathers o f a dark g reen^ ffl^ r i?p c fand
purple reflexions ; orbits olive-green; irides h row jr^ ^ ^ ^ g s and feet dullfoliye-hrown.
A s ' considerable difference exists between youth arm liS ^ ^ ^ v . Fhave figured the bird in both states of
plumage, rather more th^n^twpItb^K^ft^^natural size.