versus nigro marginata. Pedes nigri. Longitudo corporis, 2 ped. 9 unc.; alee, 15 unc.; rostri, 4 ; tarsi, 6. We feel much hesitation in characterizing the bird before us as a distinct species. In a family like the present, where there is so much variation both in age and sex in the same species, it is almost impossible to decide upon the identity or distinction of species,. unless by actual observation of the birds themselves in their native haunts, and in their different ages and states of plumage. On the whole, however, it is perhaps the most eligible plan to keep those species separate which show evident marks of distinction ; leaving it to more accurate observation to ascertain whether they may be identical with described species, and differing merely by age, sex, or the variations of plumage according to the different seasons of the year. The bird before us might, at first sight, be supposed to be the common Ardea cinerea, Linn. But that bird, as far as we have observed, never possesses the entirely black head which distinguishes the specimen before us; nor has it the black on the hind part of the neck, nor on the back between the shoulders. The younger bird of our common species has those parts cinereous which are black in the adult: and the crest and lower feathers of the neck are never so much elongated as in the old bird. The strength of the black markings in Major Denham’s species, moreover, and the developement of the crest, neck, and scapular feathers, prevent us from concluding it to be an immature bird. If we allow it to be adult, it is decidedly distinct from the adult of A. cinerea. We know no other allied species to which we might consider it referable. These birds were found in great abundance in all the lakes and marshes throughout the route of our travellers. They were met with in company with numberless other species of the family, specimens of which our officers were prevented from preserving, or bringing home, in consequence of the difficulties attending the expedition, to which we have before alluded. Genus. S c o p u s . Briss. Species 16—Scopus umbretta. Scopus umbretta. Gmel. I. 618. L’Ombrette du Senegal. PI. Enl. 796. The Umhre. Brown’s IUust. of Zool. pi. 35. Tufted Umbre. Lath. Gen. Hist. Vol. IX. p. 23. Major Denham informs us, that this bird was very rarely seen. The few he observed were met with in the Mimosa trees. Genus. I b is . Lacep. Species 17*—/ his sKtiiiopicus. Tantalus yLthiopicus. Lath. Ind. Om. 706. Ibis religiosa. Cuv. Begne Anim. I. 483. Abou Hannez. Bruce’s Trav. Append, pi. p. 172. This bird, which is of exceeding interest as being one of the two species of Ibis which were the objects of sacred worship among the Egyptians, was met with by Major Denham on the west borders of the Lake Tchad. He observed them in flocks, and in considerable numbers. Hitherto they have been sparingly seen by travellers, and few specimens have reached our collections. Genus. C ic o n ia . Briss. Species 18.—Ciconia Marabou. Ciconia Argala. Temm. PI. Col. SOI. This bird was met with rather plentifully in the neighbourhood of large towns, in company with the Vultures, to the manners of which we have already referred, page 195. Like them, they were protected by the natives, in consideration of the services they performed in clearing away all the offensive substances which were thrown out to them from the towns. In India, we find that the corresponding species, Ardea Argala, Lath., is held in equal estimation for similar services. Major Denham mentions his having frequently been a witness of their voracious and omnivorous habits. M. Temminck first figured and characterized this African species as distinct from that of India. He has given it the name of Argala, while for the Indian bird, which had already received that name from Dr. Latham, he proposes the name of Marabou. We have ventured to reverse the order d d 2
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