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Show 1877.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE IBIDINSE. 509 Eudocimus alba, Wagl. Isis (1832) p. 1232. Eudocimus longirostris, Wagl. Isis (1832) p. 1234. Leucibis alba, Reich. Nov. Syn. Av. pl. 141. fig. 526 (1851). Hab. Southern North America ; Central America ; Cuba. The white Ibis is found in Florida in great flocks; and in the places selected by these birds to breed, many thousands are sometimes congregated together. The nest, which is flat and composed of sticks, is placed upon the fork of some branch; and as many as forty-seven, according to Audubon, have been seen on one tree. The young fly in four or five weeks ; and as soon as they are able to take care of themselves the old birds leave them. They feed on shellfish, slugs, snails, &c. When flying the species presents a beautiful appearance, each member of the flock imitating exactly the movements of the leader, as he proceeds with alternate flappings and sailings. At times they mount upwards to a great height and perform various and graceful evolutions, showing to great advantage with the sun shining upon their pure white plumage relieved only by the jet-black tips of the primaries. Tips of primaries for about two inches black with bluish reflections, entire rest of plumage pure white. Anterior half of head bare, feathers reaching to about the middle of the eye, throat bare ; the skin of these portions light red. Bill red, apical portion black. Tarsi have the anterior half transversely scutellated, hind part covered with hexagonal scales, and, with the feet, are red. Total length 29 inches; wing 11, tail 4|, bill along culmen 65, tarsus 3|. Young :-Head and neck light brown, the feathers edged with white. Wings, back and tail chocolate-brown. Entire underparts and rump white Bill entirely red ; feet and legs flesh-colour. 25. EUDOCIMUS RUBER. Tantalus ruber, Linn. Syst. Nat. (1766) p. 241. sp. 5; Gmel. Syst. Nat. (1788) vol, i. p. 651. sp. 5; Lath. Ind. Orn. (1790) vol. ii. p. 703. sp. 2 ; Wils. A m . Ornith. (1814) vol. viii. pl. 66 ; Cuv. Regn. Anim. (1829) p. 520; Less. Trait. Ornith. (1831) p. 567. sp. 3 ; Bon. Wils. A m . Orn. (1832) vol. iii. p. 63, pl. lxvi. fig. 2. Tantalus minutus, Linn. Syst. Nat. (1766) p. 241. sp. 3 ; Gmel. Syst. Nat. (1788) p. 650. sp. 3 ; Lath. Ind. Orn. (1790) vol. ii. p. 708. sp. 19 ; Vieill. Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat. (1817) vol. xvi. p. 23; id. Ency. Me'th. (1823) torn. iii. p. 1151. Tantalus fuscus, Linn. Syst. Nat. (1766) p. 242. sp. 7, juv.; Gmel. Syst. Av. (1788) p. 651. sp. 7, juv.; Lath. Ind. Orn. (1790) p. 705. sp. 8. Courly rouge de Bresil, Buff. Pl. Enl. no. 80, juv., 81, ad. Brown Ibis, Lath. Gen. Syn. (1783) vol. iii. p. 110. sp. 8. Lesser Ibis, Lath. Gen. Syn. (1783) vol. iii. p. 117. sp. 18. Ibis rubra, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat. (1817) vol. xvi. p. 22 ; id. Ency. Meth. (1823) torn. iii. p. 1150; Wagl. Syst. Av. (1827) sp. 4; Nutt. Orn. U. S. (1834) vol. ii. p. 84; Aud. B. Amer. 8vo ed. (1842) vol. vi. pl. 359, p. 53 ; id. Orn. Biog. vol. v. p. 6*2; G. R. |