Bailly states that “ The Ibis falcinellus ordinarily visits Savoy and the environs of Geneva at intervals
of three and five years, principally a t the end of April or in May. I know o f no instance of its appearance
during autumn, nor even at the end o f summer. I t is generally in little hands, or in couples, male and
female, and seldom singly, that it visits our marshy localities, the borders o f our lakes, rivers, and ponds.
It is there observed on rainy days, and when the wind is south o r south-east. . The 26th April, 1847, a
couple occurred on the borders of the Tsere, near St.-Pierre-d’Albi£ny, and were shot the same day j « f e e
years after, on 21st May, 1850, a company o f four individuals appeared in a bog in thé environs of Chamoux,
of which two were killed ; finally, May 8th, 1854, a hand of five unexpectedly arrived on the bo rd ers'o f
Lake Bourget, and were all killed in a few moments. Here it is always more easily approached than the
Curlew. When it takes flight at the sight of the sportsman it does not go. far. Its walk is slow and
measured, almost like that o f the Stork. Worms, leeches, snails, small shell-fish, and certain aquatic
vegetables form its chief food. The Ibis falcinellus nests in the south of Russia. I t lays, in the midst o f the
rushes and reeds, three or four clear green-blue eggs.”
Midway between Tultscha and Ismael, M. Johann Zelebor found a large breeding-place of various H erons,
amoug which he also observed Falcinellus igneus and Carlo pygmoeus,
Messrs. Elwes and Buckley note it as common in Turkey in summer, especially about the lagoons and
marshes of the Danube.
Mr. Howard Saunders says it is “ abundant in the • marisma ’ o f Southern Spain, where it undoubtedly
breeds.” . ’ ' ' ’ ' - ’ -
Mr. T. Ayres states that the Glossy Ibis is scarce in the Trans-Vaal Republic, and very shy and diflicult
of approach. They frequent swamps, generally in pairs, and on being disturbed circle up to a great height
in the air, and then go right away to some other favourite marsh.
According to Dr. J . Kirk, it is “ rather common in the Zambesi region, but a shy bird, difficult to
approach ; its cry is loud and harsh. I t feeds in marshes and near rivers, but perches on the high trees
when disturbed.”
The Glossy Ibis seems to evince a remarkable partiality for the society o f various species o f Herons as
will be seen by the following notes by Mr. Tristram, Mr. Salvin, and Mr. W rig h t:— “ The Glossy Ibis
{F a km r tn igneus), that common attendant on the Herons,” says Dr. Tristram, in his •'No,tes on the
Ornithology of Pa lestin e^ “ which we used in Africa: to compare to the black sheep in a flock o f white
ones, appears to be very rare in Palestine, and I only once saw it.”
Sh° r t reeds ” °f the Eastern Atla.s, says Mr. Salvin, “ stand a row o f Buff-backed Herons
m H e ro d ia s russat<i), contrasting strangely in their sluggish movements with the active Little Egrets
Herodms g a rn it« , some five or six o f which may be seen feeding near, with a Glossy Ibis {Ibis fàlànellys)
the 'Devil Heron ’ in their company. I several times saw a Glossy Ibis accompanying a small. flodt of
Little Egrets at Zana; and it would appear, from Mr. Tristram’s account of them a t Lake Halloula, that
they always show this partiality for Herons, but are not constant in their attentions to any one species f '
“ ISometimes ’’ says Mr. Wright, writing of the bird in Malta, “ a solitary one is seen accompanying a
flock of E grets. The above notes are from ‘ The Ibis ’ for 1859 &c.
Dr. Jerdon states that “ The Gloss, Ibis is found in vast numbers in India during the cold weather
requenting the edges o f large tanks, jheels, and rivers, also swamps and inundated paddy-fields, and
feeding on mollusks, Crustacea, insects, and worms. I t flies in flocks rapidly and with great regularity
and generally in the form o f a wedge, and roosts a t night in large beds of reeds. It is said to breed among
reeds. I t is most excellent eating, and has a tolerably loud call, often uttered in flight and when alarmed ” '
Captain Irby states that the Glossy Ibis is common in Ondh and Kumaon during the cold season, where
it is usually seen m flocks, and where he has repeatedly observed it settle on trees.
When fully adult, the sexes of the Glossy Ibis are alike in colour; but it would appear that a t least two or
three years must elapse before they attain the changeable bright colouring o f the upper surface, and the
chestout hue of the neck ; during the earlier portion o f their existence the neck is striated dark brown
striated with greyish white, while the upper surface is changeable black ; whence, I believe, has arisen the
trivial name of Black Curlew,’ by which it wasknown to the fishermen , of Norfolk, as mentioned above
I t was a bird m this state that was killed in Scilly in 1866, “ for,” says Mr. Rodd, in a note to myself “ it
is apparently quite young, and the underparts are smoke wood-brown, with the neck variegated with white
spots and markings. ° e
The principal figure represents an adult male, somewhat under the natural size.