Chapter XXVIII: Part 28

The Glossy Ibis is of exceedingly rare occurrence in the United States, where it appears only at long and irregular intervals, like a wanderer who has lost his way. It exists in Mexico, however, in vast numbers. In the spring of 1837, I saw flocks of it in the Texas; but even there it is merely a summer resident, associating with the White Ibis, along the grassy margins of the rivers and bayous, and apparently going to and returning from its roosting places in the interior of the country. Its flight resembles that of its companion, the White Ibis, and it is probable that it feeds on the same kinds of crustaceous animals, and breeds on low bushes in the same great associations as that species, but we unfortunately had no opportunity of verifying this conjecture. Mr NUTTALL, in his Ornithology of the United States and Canada, says that “a specimen has occasionally been exposed for sale in the market of Boston.”

I have given the figure of a male bird in superb plumage, procured in Florida, near a wood-cutter’s cabin, a view of which is also given.

TANTALUS FALCINELLUS, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p.
241.—_Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. ii, p. 707.

IBIS FALCINELLUS, _Vieill._ Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat.—_Ch.
Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p.
311.—_Wagler_, Syst. Avium.

GLOSSY IBIS, IBIS FALCINELLUS, _Ch. Bonap._ Amer. Ornith.
vol. iv. p. 23.

TANTALUS IGNEUS, _Gmel._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 649.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 708. Adult.

TANTALUS VIRIDIS, _Gmel._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 648.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 707. Young.

NUMENIUS CASTANEUS, _Briss._ vol. v. p. 329. Adult.

NUMENIUS VIRIDIS, _Briss_. vol. v. p. 326. Young.

TANTALUS MEXICANUS? _Ord_, Journal of Acad. of Sciences of
Philadelphia, vol. i. p. 53.

BAY or GLOSSY IBIS, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 88.

Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXXVII.

Bill very long, slender, higher than broad, compressed, tapering, acute, obtuse. Upper mandible with the dorsal line arched in its whole length, the ridge convex, broader towards the end, the sides at the base nearly erect, towards the end very convex and narrow, the ridge separated in its whole length from the sides by a deep narrow groove, the edges inflected and sharp. Nostrils basal, dorsal, linear, direct. Lower mandible more slender than the upper, its angle very narrow, and protracted in the form of a groove to the tip, the sides convex, the edges sharp, but strong and closely approximated, bearing only a very narrow groove between them.

Head small, compressed, oblong; neck long and slender; body slender, deeper than broad; wings rather large. Feet very long, slender; tibia long, bare about half its length, and covered all round with hexagonal scales; tarsi long, slender, anteriorly covered with numerous broad scutella, laterally with angular scales, beneath flattened, with thick soft margins; the anterior connected at the base by membranes, of which the outer is large; claws rather small, slightly arched, compressed, tapering, pointed, that of the middle toe with a sharp thin edge.

There is a bare space margining the forehead, occupying the part before the eye, and extending a little beyond it. Feathers of the head and neck slender lanceolate; those of the former glossy and compact, of the latter blended, as are those of the breast and abdomen, which are ovate. The upper parts highly glossed, with silky lustre, the feathers generally ovate and rounded. Wings long, 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 first sinuate on the inner web near the end, the second less deeply so; some of the inner secondaries elongated, but rounded, and when the wing is closed an inch and ten-twelfths shorter than the longest primary. Tail short, very slightly emarginate, of twelve rounded feathers.

Bill black; bare part of the head greyish-blue; iris hazel; feet greyish-black, claws brown. The upper part and sides of the head are dark glossy, with purplish reflections. The neck, a portion of the back anteriorly, the breast, abdomen, and legs, are of a deep rich brownish-red, or dark chestnut; part of the breast shaded with green, the sides dusky tinged with green, as are the lower wing-coverts, and lower tail-coverts. Excepting the anterior edge of the wing, and the anterior scapulars, which are deep glossy brownish-red, 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 30-1/2; bill along the ridge 5-4/12, along the edge of lower mandible 5-2/12; wing from flexure 11-1/4; tail 4-1/4; bare part of tibia 2-1/2; hind toe 1-1/12, its claw (5-1/4)/12; second toe 1-11/12, its claw (6-1/4)/12; third toe 2-8/12, its claw 7/12; fourth toe 2-4/12, its claw 5/12.

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 are greyish-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 blackish-green, 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 also precisely similar. I cannot therefore entertain a doubt as to the identity of our bird with the _Tantalus Falcinellus_ of LATHAM and other European writers, which has been shewn by SAVIGNY to be the Black Ibis of the ancients.

SUBSCRIBERS TO “THE BIRDS OF AMERICA,”

OBTAINED SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE THIRD VOLUME.

Miss Elizabeth L. Pickman, Salem, Massachusetts.

The Salem Atheneum, Salem, Massachusetts.

Augustus Thorndike, Esq. Boston, Massachusetts.

J. J. Hughes, Esq. Manchester, Mississippi.

John Hunt, Esq. Mobile, Alabama.

L. Baldwin, Esq. Civil Engineer, Boston.

The Honourable Daniel Webster, Boston.

Samuel Swartout, Esq. New York.

James Watson Webb, Esq. New York.

Thomas H. Faile, Esq. New York.

Lewis Rogers, Esq. New York.

Henry Hitchcock, Mobile, Alabama.

Jer. Van Rensselaer, Esq. M. D., New York.

The Honourable Levy Woodbury, Washington City, for the State
Departments.

Stephen A. Halsey, Hallet’s Cove, Long Island.

The State of Michigan, by Governor Mason.

Thomas Metcalf, Esq. Augusta, Georgia.

Henry Clay, junior, Esq. Ashland, Kentucky.

H. C. De Rham, junior, Esq. New York.

Benjamin Phillips, Esq., F.R.S.L., &c. &c. &c. 17 Wimpole
Street, London.

Henry G. Bohn, Esq., London.

John Gould, Esq. F.L.S., &c. London.

Charles J. Warde, Esq. Welcomb, near Stratford-on-Avon.

The British Museum, London.

His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, &c. &c. &c.

Earl Hardwicke, &c. &c. &c. Wimpole, Arlington, Cambridge.

Sir Jacob Hastley, Bart., &c. &c. 7 Cavendish Square, London.

INDEX.

Page

Alea impennis, 316

American Avoset, 168

—— Bittern, 296

—— Dipper, 493

—— Ring Plover, 256

—— White Pelican, 88

—— Widgeon, 337

Anas americana, 237

—— Breweri, 302

—— clypeata, 241

—— discors, 111

—— obscura, 15

—— strepera, 353

Anhinga, 136

Anser hyperboreus, 562

Aramus Scolopaceus, 543

Ardea cœrulea, 58

—— Egretta, 600

—— minor, 296

—— violacea, 290

—— virescens, 274

Arkansaw Flycatcher, 422

Ash-coloured Sandpiper, 130

Auk, Great, 316

Avoset, American, 168

Band-tailed Pigeon, 479

Bank Swallow, 584

Bartramian Sandpiper, 24

Bittern, American, 296

Black Skimmer, 203

Black-bellied Plover, 280

Black-cap Titmouse, 374

Black-headed Grosbeak, 519

Black-headed Gull, 118

Black-necked Stilt, 247

Black-shouldered Hawk, 367

Black-throated Bunting, 579

—— Diver, 345

Blue Heron, 58

Blue-winged Teal, 111

Bohemian Chatterer, 462

Bombycilla garrula, 462

Bonapartian Gull, 212

Brewer’s Duck, 302

Buffel-headed Duck, 217

Bunting, Black-throated, 579

Buzzard, Common, 508

Canvass-back Duck, 1

Charadrius helveticus, 280

—— montanus, 362

—— semipalmatus, 256

Chatterer, Bohemian, 462

Chestnut-backed Titmouse, 371

Chestnut-crowned Titmouse, 382

Clarke’s Nutcracker, 459

Cinclus Americanus, 493

Cleome heptaphylla, 558

Cock of the Plains, 503

Columba fasciata, 479

Colymbus arcticus, 345

—— glacialis, 43

Common Buzzard, 508

—— Gannet, 222

—— Magpie, 408

—— Tern, 74

Corvus Nuttalli, 450

—— Pica, 408

—— Stelleri, 453

—— ultramarinus, 456

Courlan, Scolopaceous, 543

Crossbill, White-winged, 467

Cygnus Buccinator, 536

Dipper, American, 493

Diver, Black-throated, 345

—— Great Northern, 43

Duck, Brewer’s, 302

—— Buffel-headed, 217

—— Canvass-back, 1

—— Dusky, 15

—— Gadwall, 353

—— Golden-eye, 318

—— Long-tailed, 103

—— Pied, 271

—— Red-headed, 198

—— Ruddy, 326

—— Shoveller, 241

—— Surf, 161

Dusky Duck, 15

Dusky Grous, 446

Egret, Great American, 600

Emberiza americana, 579

—— lapponica, 472

Evening Grosbeak, 515

Falco Buteo, 508

—— cyaneus, 396

—— dispar, 367

—— fuscus, 522

Falcon, Iceland, 476

—— Jer, 476

Finch, Macgillivray’s, 394

Flycatcher, Arkansaw, 422

—— Say’s, 420

—— Swallow-tailed, 426

Fringilla Linaria, 533

—— Macgillivraii, 394

—— melanocephala, 519

—— vespertina, 515

Fuligula Albeola, 217

—— clangula, 318

—— Ferina, 198

—— glacialis, 103

—— labradora, 271

—— perspicillata, 161

—— rubida, 326

—— valisneriana, 1

Gadwall Duck, 353

Gallinula martinica, 37

Gallinule, Purple, 37

Gannet, Common, 222

Glossy Ibis, 608

Godwit, Tell-tale, 68

Golden-eye Duck, 318

Goosander, 261

Goose, Snow, 562

Great American Egret, 600

—— Auk, 316

—— Cinereous Owl, 364

—— Northern Diver, 43

Green Heron, 274

Grous, Dusky, 446

—— Rock, 483

—— Sharp-tailed, 569

Grosbeak, Black-headed, 519

—— Evening, 515

—— Pine, 414

Guillemot, Little, 304

Gull, Black-headed, 519

—— Bonapartian, 212

—— Laughing, 118

Hawk, Black-shouldered, 367

—— Marsh, 396

—— Owl, 550

—— Sharp-shinned, 522

—— Slate-coloured, 522

Heron, Blue, 58

—— Green, 274

—— Yellow-crowned, 290

Himantopus nigricollis, 247

Hirundo riparia, 584

—— serripennis, 593

—— thalassina, 597

Humming Bird, Ruff-necked, 555

Ibis Falcinellus, 608

—— Glossy, 608

Iceland Falcon, 476

Jay, Steller’s, 453

—— Ultramarine, 456

Jer Falcon, 476

Knot, 130

Lapland Longspur, 472

Larus Atricilla, 118

—— Bonapartii, 212

Laughing Gull, 118

Least Petrel, 310

—— Tern, 175

—— Water Rail, 359

Lepus palustris, 510

Lesser Redpoll, 533

Little Guillemot, 304

—— Sandpiper, 180

Long-eared Owl, 572

Long-legged Sandpiper, 332

Longspur, Lapland, 472

Long-tailed Duck, 103

Loon, 43

Louisiana Tanager, 385

Loxia leucoptera, 467

Macgillivray’s Finch, 394

Magpie, Common, 408

—— Magpie, Yellow-billed, 450

Marsh Hare, 510

—— Hawk, 396

Martin, Sand, 584

Mergus Albellus, 350

—— Merganser, 261

Mocking Bird, Mountain, 487

Mountain Mocking Bird, 487

Muscicapa forficata, 426

—— Saya, 428

—— verticalis, 422

Northern Diver, 43

Nucifraga columbiana, 459

Nun, White, 350

Nutcracker, Clarke’s, 459

Owl, Great Cinereous, 364

—— Hawk, 550

—— Long-eared, 572

—— Tengmalm’s, 559

Parus atricapillus, 374

—— minimus, 382

—— rufescens, 371

Pelecanus Americanus, 88

Pelican, American, White, 88

—— White, 88

Petrel, Least, 310

Pied Duck, 271

Pigeon, Band-tailed, 479

Pine Grosbeak, 414

Plains, Cock of the, 503

Platalea Ajaja, 189

Plotus Anhinga, 136

Plover, American Ring, 256

—— Black-bellied, 280

—— Rocky mountain, 362

Purple Gallinule, 37

Rail, Least Water, 359

—— yellow-breasted, 251

Rallus noveboracensis, 251

—— jamaicensis, 359

Razor-billed Shearwater, 203

Recurvirostra americana, 168

Red-breasted Snipe, 285

Red-headed Duck, 198

Redpoll, Lesser, 533

Rhynchops nigra, 203

Ring-plover, American, 256

Rock Grous, 483

—— Wren, 443

Rocky Mountain Plover, 362

Roseate Spoonbill, 189

Rough-winged Swallow, 593

Ruddy Duck, 326

Ruff-necked Humming Bird, 555

Sand Martin, 584

Sandpiper, Ash-coloured, 130

—— Bartramian, 24

—— Little, 180

—— Long-legged, 332

—— Spotted, 81

Say’s Flycatcher, 428

Scarlet Tanager, 388

Scolopaceous Courlan, 543

Scolopax noveboracensis, 285

Sharp-shinned Hawk, 522

Sharp-tailed Grous, 569

Shear-water, Razor-billed, 203

Shoveller Duck, 241

Skimmer, Black, 203

Slate-coloured Hawk, 522

Smew, 350

Snake-bird, 136

Snipe, Red-breasted, 285

Snow Goose, 562

Spoonbill, Roseate, 189

Spotted Sandpiper, 81

Steller’s Jay, 453

Sterna Hirundo, 74

—— minuta, 175

Stilt, Black-necked, 247

Strepsilas Interpres, 31

Strix cinerea, 364

—— funerea, 550

—— Tengmalmi, 559

Sula bassana, 222

Surf Duck, 161

Swallow, Bank, 584

—— Rough-winged, 593

Swallow-tailed Flycatcher, 426

Swallow, violet-green, 597

Swan, Trumpeter, 536

Tanager, Louisiana, 385

—— Scarlet, 388

Tanagra ludoviciana, 385

—— rubra, 388

Tapaya orbicularis, 606

Tapayaxin, 607

Teal, Blue-winged, 111

Tengmalm’s Owl, 559

Tell-tale Godwit, 68

Tern, Common, 74

—— Least, 175

Tetrao obscurus, 446

—— Phasianellus, 569

—— rupestris, 483

—— Urophasianus, 503

Thalassidroma pelagica, 310

Thrush, Varied, 489

Titmouse, Black-cap, 374

—— Chestnut-backed, 371

—— Chestnut-crowned, 382

Totanus Bartramius, 24

—— macularius, 81

—— melanoleucus, 68

Tringa himantopus, 332

—— islandica, 130

—— pusilla, 180

Troglodytes hyemalis, 430

—— obsoletus, 443

Trochilus rufus, 555

Trumpeter Swan, 536

Turdus montanus, 487

—— nævius, 489

Turnstone, 31

Ultramarine Jay, 456

Uria Alle, 304

Varied Thrush, 489

Violet-green Swallow, 597

White Nun, 350

White-winged Crossbill, 467

Widgeon, American, 337

Winter Wren, 430

Wren, Rock, 443

—— Winter, 430

Yellow-billed Magpie, 450

Yellow-breasted Rail, 251

Yellow-crowned Heron, 290

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