AUDUBON JOURNAL 



Spoon Bill 



Bill Long, thin, the tip dilated, Orbicular, flat, 

 nostrils Small, placed near the base of the Bill, tongue 

 Short, pointed; feet four toed, Semipalmate 



Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja. 7.123 



La Spatule couleur de Rose de Brisson — 

 I sent Willson from Natchez, Measured 2 feet 6/12 and 4 

 feet in extent. Bill 6J Inches Long from the Corner of 

 the Mouth 7 from its upper lap, 2 Inches its greatest 

 Width } Inches Narowest place— J Black covered 

 with Scaly protuberances hke the edge of oister shells 

 — waitish stained with red — Nostrils oblong in the 

 Midle of the upper Mandible — a deep groove runs 

 along the Mandible about I Inch from the edge — 

 Crown & Chin bare covered with a greenish Skin; 

 that below the Lower Mandible dilatable as in Peh- 

 cans — orange round the eye, Irides blood red; cheeks 

 & hind head bare black Skin; Neck Long covered 

 with Short White feathers, tipt on the Neck with 

 Crimson; breast White its Sides burnt brown Color, 

 a Long tuft of hair Like plumage proceeds from the 

 breast pale rose Color back White Slightly tinged 

 with brownish, Wings pale rose Color, Shafts of same 

 Lake; Shoulders of the Wings covered with Long 

 hairy plumage deep & splendid Carmine; upper & 

 Lower tail Coverts Same; belly rosy; rump paler; tail 

 equal at the end 12 bright brownish orange feathers, 



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