- Scopus umbretta. Gmel. I. 618.
- L’Ombrette du Senegal. Pl. Enl. 796.
- The Umbre. Brown’s Illust. of Zool. pl. 35.
- Tufted Umbre. Lath. Gen. Hist. Vol. IX. p. 23.
Major Denham informs us, that this bird was very rarely seen. The few he observed were met with in the Mimosa trees.
| Genus. | Ibis. | Lacep. |
Species 17—Ibis Æthiopicus.
- Tantalus Æthiopicus. Lath. Ind. Orn. 706.
- Ibis religiosa. Cuv. Regne Anim. I. 483.
- Abou Hannez. Bruce’s Trav. Append. pl. p. 172.
This bird, which is of exceeding interest as being one of the two species of Ibis which were the objects of sacred worship among the Egyptians, was met with by Major Denham on the west borders of the Lake Tchad. He observed them in flocks, and in considerable numbers. Hitherto they have been sparingly seen by travellers, and few specimens have reached our collections.
| Genus. | Ciconia. | Briss. |
Species 18.—Ciconia Marabou.
- Ciconia Argala. Temm. Pl. Col. 301.
This bird was met with rather plentifully in the neighbourhood of large towns, in company with the Vultures, to the manners of which we have already referred, page 195. Like them, they were protected by the natives, in consideration of the services they performed in clearing away all the offensive substances which were thrown out to them from the towns. In India, we find that the corresponding species, Ardea Argala, Lath., is held in equal estimation for similar services. Major Denham mentions his having frequently been a witness of their voracious and omnivorous habits.