. A Book of ornithology, for youth. Embracing descriptions of the most interesting and remarkable birds in all countries, with particular notices of American birds . in flocks, building their nests in trees hanging over thewater, and laying two eggs. They feed chiefly on fish. singular bird is of the heron tribe. It is commonin India, and is seen on the houses and in the streets ofCalcutta, as familiarly as domestic fowls. Its head looks EGYPTIAN IBIS. 239 as if it were made of wood, being unprotected by hair,feather or down; and this oddity is heightened by the pe-culiarity of t
. A Book of ornithology, for youth. Embracing descriptions of the most interesting and remarkable birds in all countries, with particular notices of American birds . in flocks, building their nests in trees hanging over thewater, and laying two eggs. They feed chiefly on fish. singular bird is of the heron tribe. It is commonin India, and is seen on the houses and in the streets ofCalcutta, as familiarly as domestic fowls. Its head looks EGYPTIAN IBIS. 239 as if it were made of wood, being unprotected by hair,feather or down; and this oddity is heightened by the pe-culiarity of the eye, which seems to be set in it, as if with-out lids. Under the chin is a kind of purse or bag, whichseems adapted to receive the water that they swallow. with their food. The beak is composed of two long sticks,apparently as of wood, with which the bird makes a loudchattering noise in order to clear them. The coverts ofthe wings and back are black, with a bluish tint; the un-der part of the body is whitish. The neck is withoutfeathers, like that of the ostrich, and is of a flesh colour. EGYPTIAN bird, so famous in history and mythology, is largerthan the stork, measuring from thirty to forty inches in 240 THE CURLEW. length. The bill is seven inches long, is slightly curved,and ends in a blunt point. The plumage is a reddishwhite, almost inclining to red on the back and wings. Itis found in great numbers in Lower Egypt, in places just
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookidbookoforni, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1832
