visits Savoy and the environs of Geneva at intervals

fulcinellus ordinarily
at the end of April or in May.

Bailly states that ‘The Jdis
of three and five years, principally
en at the end of summer. It is generally in little bands, or in couples, male and
our marshy localities, the borders of our lakes, rivers, and ponds.
ind is south or south-east. Vhe 26th April, 1847, a
St.-Pierre-d’Albigny, and were shot the same day; some
appeared in a bog in the environs of Chamoux,

I know of no instance of its appearance

during autumn, nor ev
female, and seldom singly, that it visits
It is there observed on rainy days, and whev the w
ders of the Tsere, near

y of four individuals
1854, a band of five unexpectedly arrived on the borders of
Here it is always more easily approached than the
it does not go far. Its walk is slow and

couple occurred on the bor
years after, on 21st May, 1850, a compan
of which two were killed ; finally, May 8th,
Lake Bourget, and were all killed in a few moments.
Curlew. When it takes flight at the sight of the sportsman
measured, almost like that of the Stork. Worms, leeches, snails, small shell-fish, and certain aquatic
vegetables form its chief food. ‘The Ibis falcinellus nests in the south of Russia. It lays, in the midst of the

e or four clear green-blue eggs.”

rushes and reeds, thre
elebor found a large breeding-place of various Herons,

Midway between Tultscha and Ismael, M. Johann Z
among which he also observed Falcinellus igneus and Carbo pygmaeus.
Messrs. Elwes and Buckley note it as common in Turkey in summer, especially about the lagoons and
marshes of the Danube.

Mr. Howard Saunders says it ‘5 “abundant in the ‘marisma >of Southern Spain, where it undoubtedly

breeds.”

Mr. T. Ayres states that the
They frequent swamps, generally in pairs, and on being
in the air, and then go right away to some other favourite marsh.

According to Dr. J. Kirk, it is ‘rather common in the Zambesi region, but a shy bird, difficult to
It feeds in marshes and near rivers, but perches on the high trees

Glossy Ibis is scarce in the Trans-Vaal Republic, and very shy and difficult

of approach. disturbed circle up to a great height

approach ; its ery is loud and harsh.
when disturbed.”

The Glossy Ibis seems to evince a remarkable partiality
will be seen by the following notes by Mr. Tristram, Mr.
(Falcinellus igneus), that common attendant on the Herons,”
Ornithology of Palestine,’ ‘“ which we used in Africa to compare to the blac

ones, appears to he very rare in Palestine, and I only once saw it.”
of the Eastern Atlas, says Mr. Salvin, “stand a row of Buff-backed Herons
in their sluggish movements with the active Little Egrets,

for the society of various species of Herons, as
Salvin, and Mr. Wright :—‘ The Glossy Ibis
says Dr. Tristram, in his ‘Notes on the
k sheep in a flock of white

“Tn the short reeds ”
(Herodias russata), contrasting strangely
Herodias garzetta, some five or six of which may be seen feeding near, with a Glossy Ibis (This falcinellus),
the ‘Devil Heron,’ in their company. I several: times saw a Glossy Ibis accompanying a small flock of
Little Egrets at Zana ; and it would appear, from Mr. Tristram’s account .of them at Lake Halloula, that
they always show this partiality for Herons, but are not constant in their attentions to any one species.”

“Sometimes,” says Mr. Wright, writing of the bird in Malta, ‘a solitary one is seen accompanying a
flocks of Egrets.” The above notes are from ‘ The Ibis’ for 1859 &c.

Dr. Jerdon states that “The Glossy Ibis is found in vast numbers in India during the cold weather,
frequenting the edges of large tanks, jheels, and rivers, also swamps and inundated paddy-fields, and
feeding on mollusks, crustacea, insects, and worms. It flies in flocks rapidly and with great regularity,
and generally in the form of a wedge, and roosts at night in large beds of reeds. It is said to breed among
. It : most excellent eating, and has a tolerably loud call, often uttered in flight and when alenmicilag

Japtain Irby states that the Glossy Ibis is common in Oudh and Kumaor a seas ;
it is usually seen in flocks, and eo he has repeatedly observed it settle es me oe

When fully adult, the sexes of the Glossy Ibis are alike in colour; but it would appear that at least two or

three years must elapse before they attain the changeable bright colouring of the upper surface, and the

 

eee, a of Pee during the earlier portion of their existence the neck is striated dark brown,
striated with greyish white, whi - surface is chi : :
ee i i ac , hile the sone surface is changeable black; whence, I believe, has risen the
"i eo ack Curlew,’ by which it was known to the fishermen of Norfolk, as mentioned above.
t was a bird in this stat as ki : Whe j :
: e that was killed in Scilly in 1866, “for,” says Mr. Rodd, in a note to myself, “1
is appare . F et : : :

po quite young, and the underparts are smoke wood-brown, with the neck variegated with white
spots and markings.”

lhe principal figure represents an adult male, somewhat under the natural size.