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Show 1877.J MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON THE IBIDINSE. 487 mens of the present species should entitle such individuals to a distinctive rank, as it is only a part of the seasonal dress. In regard to the extent of the greenish-black colour on the ends of the primaries, I find it varies greatly in different examples from the same country. Thus, one in the Paris Museum, from the Cape of Good Hope, has the end of the first primary greenish black for If inch ; while another, from Sumatra, in the same collection has the first primary covered for 3| inches from the tip with the same colour. In the face of such facts, and with specimens before me from Australia, the Moluccas, and Africa, no two of which are exactly alike in their coloration, as above stated, I cannot do otherwise than consider Mr. Gould's bird from Australia the same as the African I. cethiopica, and consign his name to the list of its synonyms. Mr. Gould says that in Australia this bird goes in small flocks from five to twenty in number, and frequents the wet hollows of lagoons, and banks of rivers, seeking frogs, newts, and insects. It is wary, and difficult to approach sufficiently near to bring it within shooting-distance. Mr. Ayres states that this species frequents the Bay of Natal and the mouths of the rivers along the coast, and are very shy. He has seen them in company with Spoonbills and White Herons, sunning tbemselves on the upper boughs of the mangroves, and at low water feeding on the mud-banks with the Curlews, Egrets, and Herons. When flying they usually form a figure like Swans and Geese. It arrives in the Zambesi region, according to Dr. Kirk, from the north in December, and frequents the sea-coast. He says the flesh is very good eating. Gould describes the back of the head and neck as crossed by narrow distinct bands of rose-pink, and on the crown of the head is a series of oval spots arranged in the form of a star of the same colour. However, while in some specimens these are conspicuous, in others they are scarcely apparent, and in the dried skins these marks are not visible. As the allied form I. melanocephala has also this same style of coloration, as stated by Blyth, it has no specific value. Head and neck bare of feathers ; skin black ; tips of the primaries greenish black, varying in extent among individuals on the first primary from 1 inch to 3\ inches. Tertials with open, much lengthened and diminished webs falling over and covering the lower part of the wing, blackish purple. Entire rest of plumage pure white. In some specimens the feathers of the lower part of the neck are lengthened into a tuft. Bill black; iris reddish brown. Legs horn-colour. . Total length 29 to 30 inches ; wing 14 inches ; tail 6 inches ; bill along culmen varying from 5 to 8 inches; tarsus 3| inches. Young have the neck covered with short white feathers. 2. IBIS BERNIERI. Ibis bernieri, Bon. Consp. Gen. Av. (1857) vol. ii. p. 151 ; Sclat. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1870) p. 382. |