AVES 



341 



The spoonbill is stork-like with a spoon-shaped bill that easily 

 captures insect prey, larvae, fish, frogs, etc. It is found in the trop- 

 ics. The tropic birds are found in the tropic oceans, flying hundreds 

 of miles from land and taking refuge on ships or floating debris. 

 (Figure 188.) 



Fig. 187. A, black duck. 5, Canada goose. C, greater scaup. D, mallard ducks. 

 (From L. A. Fuertes. Courtesy of Slingerland-Comstock Publishing Co.) 



Orders. Paludicolae. — The sandhill crane is the most abun- 

 dant and largest of this species found in America. The great 

 bustard is the largest of European birds, being about 45 inches long 

 and weighing about 30 pounds. It looks like a goose, but has a 

 head and bill resembling the crane. The sun bitterns are small, like 

 the rails, with short legs, thin neck, a large head and a long, pointed 

 bill. The head is sunk on the body, when at rest, giving the bird a 

 neckless appearance. The rails resemble the quail and the plover. 

 (Figure 188, A, B, C, D.) 



Order 9. Limicolae. — The Limicolae are marsh and shore birds, 

 with long necks, long slender bills, rather long slender legs, short tails 



