WHITE IBIS
184. Guara alba. 25 in.
Tips of primaries black; plumage, otherwise, entirely white; bill, face
and legs, orange red or carmine. Young with head and neck, and more or
less of the body, brownish or streaked with brown. White Ibises are very
abundant in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, breeding in immense
rookeries in remote swamps, placing their frail platforms in bushes over
the water or sometimes weaving nests out of rushes, attached to upright
canes and brake. These rookeries are very untidy and offensive to human
beings, and millions and millions of black flies and mosquitoes will be
encountered by any who wish to investigate the breeding places of these
birds.
Notes.—A loud, harsh croak.
Nest.—Of twigs in bushes, or of rushes in the tangle and brake of
marshes; 3 or 4 whitish eggs, handsomely spotted and splashed with
brownish.
Range.—Breeds north to South Carolina and Southern Ill. Winters from the
Gulf States southward.
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SCARLET IBIS
185. Guara rubra. 25 in.
This beautiful species is wholly bright scarlet, except for the black
primaries; young birds are found in all stages of plumage from the
brownish-gray and white of the first year birds, to the full plumage of
the adults.
This is a tropical ibis that abounds in northern South America, but is
yearly decreasing in numbers, owing to the persistency with which they
are hunted, their feathers being much in demand for tying trout flies,
as well as for decorating hats, a barbarous practice that is being
stopped in this country, by legislation and public sentiment.
Nest.—In rushes or mangroves like that of the last species; the eggs are
the same size but average brighter in color (2.25 × 1.60).
Range.—Northern South America, casually north to the Gulf States, but
has not been reported for years in our country.
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GLOSSY IBIS
186. Plegadis autumnalis. 25 in.
Like the next, which is our common species, but with the feathers about
the face not white, as in that species.
Range.—Tropical America, casually north to southeastern United States.
WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS
187. Plegadis guarauna. 24 in.
Bill, face and legs, carmine red; feathers bordering the face, white;
wings and tail glossy greenish-black; rest of plumage rich
chestnut-brown, glossed with purple on the head. They nest by thousands
in extensive swamps, in company with herons.
Nest.—Strongly and compactly woven of dead rushes attached to living
stalks, well cupped, thus differing from that of any of the herons; eggs
plain greenish blue (1.95 × 1.35); deeper and brighter than those of any
of the herons.
Range.—Texas, New Mexico, Ariz., Calif., and southward.
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