610 G L O S S Y IBIS.:
convex, the sharp, but strong. and closely approximated, hearing
only a very narrow groove between them.
Head- small, compressed,, «blori-j ; neck king and slender ; body
U slender, deeper than broiul ; wings rather large. I-Vot very long, slender.;
tibia long, baro'abont half its l.mgtli, aud covered all round with
hexagonal scales : -tarai long, slender, anteriorlyicoyered with .numerous
broad .seutellii, laterally/with angular scales, beneath flattened,
with thick soft margins ¡.¡the anterior oourieetccl.at thq. tee by membranes,
of which the outer is large ; claws rather small, s i gWf arched,
compressed, tapering, pointed, that of-the. middle, toe.-with a.sharp (bin
od ge -
There, is a bare space margining : the forehead, occupying .'th.c part
before the eyfi, and extending a little.beyond it- „Ijeathors of the head
•and -neck- .slemler<lanceolate those,of. thet former glosSy and compact,
of the lattejifclended, ¡is are those of. the breast and abdomen, which
are ovato. Tli.i upper parts highly glossed, with silky lustre, the feathers
'••generally ovate and rounded. Win^Iong, ample:, the first primary a
quarter of an inch shorter than the second, which is two-twelfths longer
than the third,-the rest moderately graduated ; the lirst sinuate on the
mner web Hear the end, the second less deeply so ¿jgpme of the inner
secondaries elongated, but rtiunde.l, and when tie?wing is .closed an
inch and ten-twelfths shorter than the longest primary. Tail short,
very slightly eroarginate, of twelve rounded feathers.
Bill black; bare part of the head greyish-bluo ;s iris hazel ; felii
grovisli-blaek, claws brown. Tin- upper part and sides of the head are
dark f lo^y, with purplish reflections. The neck, a portion of the back
anteriorly, the breast, abdomen, and legs, are of a deep rich brownishred
or dark chestnut ; part of the breast shad|l,wifli green, thé; sides
dusky tinged with green, as are the lower wing-coverts, mid lmvcr tailcoverts.
Excepting the anterior edge of the wing, and the ¡interior
scapulars, which are deep glossy br.mnish-ml, the upper parts are
splendent dark green, glossed with purple ; the primaries black, shaded
with: green ; the tail glossy with purple reflections.
Length to end of tail 25 inches ; to end of claws 304; hill along
the ridge 5T%, along the edge of lower mandible 5 / j ; wing from, flexure
1 1 | ; tail -lj ; bare part of tibia 2- ; hind toe its claw -ft ; socoiid
H W i i Ss claw f| ; third toe its claw ; fourth toe 2^, its
claw f t , •
G L O S S Y IBIS. 611
The Female is similar to the male, but somewhat less.
The young in its second plumage, has the bill dusky, tinged with
yellow, the bare part of the head dusky * the feet blackish-brown, the
head, neck and lower parts areugiceyish-brown, the head and greater
part of the neck marked with small longitudinal streaks of white, of
which there are two on each feather. All the upper parts are blackishgreen,
glossy in a less degree than those of the adult.
On comparing adult American specimens with others obtained on
the old continent, I can perceive no difference between them. 'A
young Mexican bird, and one from India, are :alm precisely similar.
I cannot therefore entertain a Aoubt'iis'to the identity of our bird with
the TamtaVu Falclnelhts of LATHAM and other European writers, which
has been shewn by SAviejiir to !be the Black Ibis of the aneienits. *