A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

by John James Audubon

Adult, 24¹/₂, 40.

Constant resident in South Florida, where it is abundant. Breeds along the coast to Texas, westward, and occasionally as far as New Jersey eastward, inland as far up the Mississippi as Natchez and Red River. Returns to the Floridas in autumn.

White Ibis, Tantalus albus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 43.

Ibis alba, Bonap. Syn. p. 312.

White Ibis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 86.

White Ibis, Ibis alba, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 173; v. v. p. 593.

GENUS II. TANTALUS, Linn. TANTALUS.

Bill long, stout, at the base as wide as the face, deeper than broad, compressed, tapering towards the end, which is decurved; upper mandible with the ridge rather broad and flattened at the base, narrowed at the middle, convex towards the end, the sides sloping at the base, convex toward the end, the edges inflected and sharp, the tip declinate, rounded, with a notch on each side; nostrils basal, close to the ridge, direct, oblong; lower mandible with the angle rather wide, with a bare dilatable membrane, the edges erect and sharp, the tip blunted. Head of ordinary size, and with part of the hind neck bare and scurfy. Feet very long, like those of the Herons; tibia and tarsus reticulate; hind toe rather large, third longest; claws small, arched, that of the third toe not serrate. Wings long, ample, with the third quill longest. Tail of twelve broad rounded feathers.

363. 1. Tantalus Loculator, Linn. Wood Ibis.

Plate CCXVI. Male.

Head all round, and hind neck half-way down, destitute of feathers, the skin wrinkled and covered with irregular scurfy scales; bill dusky yellowish-brown, sides of head dark bluish-purple, upper part of head horn-colour; legs indigo-blue; toes yellowish, with the scutella black; plumage white, tinged with yellow; alula, primary coverts, primary and secondary quills, excepting the inner, and tail, black, with green and purplish-blue reflections. Young dusky grey all over, the quills and tail brown and black, the head covered with down.

Male, 44¹/₂, 62; bill, 9.

Resident from Texas to North Carolina, in deep woody swamps; or fresh-water lakes, not on the sea-shores; breeds on trees in swamps; moves in large flocks. Up the Mississippi to Natchez. Abundant in Florida and Lower Louisiana.