206 BIRDS OF EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA 



Platalea. 



Bill long, flat, expanding into a broad disc towards tip. 

 Resemble Storks in habits ; feed on small fish, frogs, 

 crustaceans, insects; nest of sticks in marshes on ground 

 among reeds or on trees ; eggs 3-4, dull chalky white spotted 

 pale red. 



Platalea leucorodia leucorodia L. Spoonbill. Fr. 

 Spatule blanche ; Ger. Loffler ; Ital. Spatola. 



^ 9 White, with yellow tinge on chest and crest feathers ; 

 naked skin of throat and round eyes yellow. Bill black, yellow 

 at tip. Legs and feet black. Iris red.- Wing <^ 360-397, ? 

 360-375. Tarsus 120-145. I^i^l 180-223 (H.). 



Breeds. — Holland, S. Spain, Hungary, Rumania, Jugo-Slavia, 

 Russia (Bessarabia, Pinsk Marshes, and on Lower Volga to 49"), 

 Caucasus ; also W. and C. Asia and N.E. Africa. Migrates ; 

 occurs occasionally Britain (Norfolk) and on passage France (where 

 no longer breeds), N. Africa. Winters tropical Africa and India. 



P. leucorodia major Temminck and Schlegel. Larger. Wing 

 to 405. Bill 235. 



Breeds. — From Egypt through C. Asia to India and China. 

 Migratory in north, resident in south of its range. 



Plegadis. 



Bill long, sickle-shaped ; nostrils slit-like ; tibia half bare. 

 Resemble Curlews in habits ; frequent marshes, lagoons, etc. ; 

 nest of flags and aquatic plants in marshes in colonies, on 

 ground or on bushes ; eggs 3, dark greenish blue. 



Plegadis falcinellus falcinellus (L.). Glossy Ibis. 

 Fr. Ibis falcinelle ; Ger. Brauner Ibis ; Ital. Mignattaio ; Swed. 

 Svart Ibis. 



$ $ summer. Crown, face, wings, and back coppery green ; 

 scapulars lilac ; lesser wing coverts and underparts claret brown. 

 In winter : head and neck brown, streaked with white ; under- 

 parts smoky brown. Bill, legs and feet dark olive brown. Iris 

 dark brown. Wing $ 290-306, ? 264-277. Tarsus 85-103. 

 Bill $ 126-145, ? 100-120 (H.). 



