days, nor could I discover that they remained to breed
in any of the many apparently very suitable marshes on
the adjacent mainland of the province of Epirus. This
bird visits the great marshes of the Guadalquivir in early
spring, and some remain to nest in that district, but it
was not till the present year (1893) that I ever heard of
them breeding there in considerable numbers. For
several years past I have received consignments of
various species of birds alive from Andalucia, and till
this year had only received four of the present species.
In sending a list of my requirements for this summer to
Seville, I placed after the Spanish name of the Glossy
Ibis the words “ unos cuantos,” which may be liberally
translated as a good number, but my readers may judge
of my consternation on hearing from one of the collectors
in July that he had ninety-five of these birds all
alive and at my orders! On my remonstrance as to
the excess, my correspondent contented himself with
shipping sixty of these birds for me from Gibraltar:
every one of these reached London alive and in good
condition, and twelve of them are doing well in the
aviaries at Lilford.
I find the Glossy Ibis easy to keep, as it is virtually
omnivorous, and able to support, without detriment, a
considerable amount of cold and damp weather without
artificial protection. In general demeanour and habits
this Ibis closely resembles the Storks and Spoonbills, and
generally, though not invariably, perches high for the
night. The only note that I have heard produced by
these birds is a decidedly corvine, prolonged, guttural
croak.
The figures in the Plate were taken from life at
Lilford: the grotesque attitude of the more remote bird
is very frequently to be observed in fine warm weather
for taking the full benefit of the sun, and is, so far as
my experience goes, confined to this bird; at all events
I have not observed it in any one of three other species
of Ibis now living at Lilford. The under surface of the
secondary wing-feathers in certain lights presents a most
beautiful iridescent vinous colour, much resembling that
of the collar of the Stock-Dove, and very conspicuous
when the bird faces the observer with one wing extended
to its full length, as depicted in the Plate., On wing,
at a distance, the Glossy Ibis very much resembles a
Cormorant in appearance, but in fashion of flight
approaches more closely to the White Spoonbill. The
nests of this species are placed either in dense jungles
of reed or, not uncommonly, in low trees or bushes in
the marshes, and are composed of broken reed-stems,
coarse sedge, and sticks. The eggs are usually four in
number, and are of very rich greenish blue.