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and a half inches long and seven and a half inches around at the base. (4:
p. 444) We do not stab our food as the herons do but seize it between
our large powerful beaks." (4: p. 444)

"Where and how do you get your food?" asked Peggy Ann.

"To get our food we 'gang up' in great numbers and after finding
a small body of water where we know fish are, we walk rapidly through
it, making the water very muddy with our strong feet." (5: p. 115)

"But why do you make the water muddy?"

"Ah, that's our secret. When the water becomes thick and muddy,
the fish and frogs and a number of other small water creatures have to
come up to breathe and then we strike them with our beaks. (5: p. 115)

"If we work hard muddying the water for ten or fifteen minutes
hundreds of fish, frogs, baby alligators, and water snakes rise to the
surface. Then we eat and eat and eat until we become so tired and
sleepy that we feel we just can't stand up a minute longer." (5: p. 115)

"Then what do you do?"

"Well," replied the wood ibis, "we walk to the nearest bank of
the pond or swamp. Then we place ourselves in long rows, with