The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-07-13
THE GLOSSY IBIS.
A Rare BIRD That visits Californts
After An Absence of Twenty.
Five Years.

For the first time in % years-so the
poultry sellers say-the ibis has paid
California a visit. 1t is curious bird,
and no one can account for the eccen-
tricities Of its migrations. It's hab-
itat is chiefly among the swamps, espe-
cially the forested swamps of Brazil
and Genital America, for ii is tropical
creature and loves the solitude of the
haunts of the blue heron, the pelican,
the famingo and the egret. Once year
it gathers in great fiocks and migrates.
It's course seems 10 depend more upon
its humor or the direction and velocity
of the wind in the upper atmosphere
into which it assends than upon any set
habit or instinct. Some times its desti-
nation is the swamps Of Louisiana, and
here among the bayous and hgoons it
can be found. And again. instead of Wis
ting Louisiana or Florida, it may stop
in Mexico. Once it has been known to
descend in Massachusetts,. where it was
found shivering in the springtime cold,
to the wonder of the country folk and
ornithologists.
One very pronounced quality the ibis
has-and it was probably owing to this
weakness that there are now such birds
in the San Francisco market-lt loves
to roam over recently overfowed lands.
The San joaquin river has been of late
high, and its waters have spread over
territory which for many years prior
had been dry; hence, it is presumed,
Los Banos and the sloughs thereabout
have been selected as the feeding
grounds of the ibis during its present
visit to the state. A few nights ago
loud squawking and shrill cawing were
heard by the denizens of Los Banos,
and many remarked that on the follow
ing morning the marshes would be
found filled with wild ducks.
A number of hunters were eonse-
quently out early among the sedges. To
their surprise they did not find ducks,
but a vast number of these long-legged,
red, cranelike creatures, which ran
gracefully and nimbly over the ground
and seemed to be intent on getting at
the earthvorms which the late overflow
had brought to the surface. That they
to hunters was manifest from the fact
that they did not take alright when
the sportsmen descended on them, but
continued their quest for food. The
slaughter began and a dozen or more
of the birds fell. This caused the big
flock to take wing, and, after ascend
ing to a considerable height, it sailed
Gal I,n, ,!t g-lf oI In,
the marsh again. The sport was kept
up all day. On the day following there
seemed to be no diminution of the nuR,r
Der of the birds, and the slaughter was
repeated. A leading game dealer esti-
mates that at least 500 dozen have
reached the markets of San Francisco.
They are being sold at 25 cents each.
and the stuffed specimens are offered at
two dollars each.
Their flesh has the dark coler of game
and a fishy flavor, which measurably
disappears upon soaking in salt water.
Otherwise there is very little difference
between the taste of its flesh and that
of mallard duck. 1t is in no sense n
duck. however, though when forced it
Will Jake 10 the water, anu III can swirl
gracefully, although not web-footed.
The ibis lays three light green eggs,
about an inch and half long by two
inches and half in circumference.
They are very pa4atable. When boiled
the yolk is a reddish orange and the
white is liver-colored jelly. 1t lays
once year and matches its young in
nest constructed of roots and twigs
built in the bushes. AS soon as the
young attains size and strength it starts
its annual fight, and it is highly prob
able that some of the individuals which
are now appearing in potpies in San
Francisco restaurants were few
months ago the most interesting little
chestnut-colored peewees peeping from
the tops of their nests on the tangled
banks of the Amazon in the swampy
jungles of South America, and never
dreaming of their trip to California or
the fate which awaited them here
San Francisco Chronicle.
VICTORIA SEES ALL DIE.