NORTH AMERICAN MARSH BIRDS 17 



which was insufficient to conceal the color of the skin; the wing quills 

 were well started, but still in sheaths. The bright pink color was 

 very conspicuous at quite a distance and could be seen through 

 the intereticos of the nest, which was covered with whitish excrement, 

 as were also the surrounding branches and the ground below; they 

 are no neater than herons in this respect. 



Dr. Frank M. Chapman (1914) says of the behavior of the young 

 birds: 



On April 17, 1910, I found a colony of about 200 pairs of roseate spoonbills 

 on Pajaro Island, in Tamiahua Lagoon, on the Gulf coast of Mexico, south of 

 Tampico. Most of the nests contained well-grown young at least a month old 

 and probably older. Allowing a month for hatching, and it is evident that these 

 birds begin to lay about the middle of February. In the Mexican colony, four 

 was the usual number of young. They were well-behaved youngsters and, 

 in the absence of their parents, rested peacefully in their homes, or occasionally 

 ventured on thrilling excursions of a few feet to the adjoining limbs. But when 

 their parents returned, they were all attention and on the alert for food. At 

 such times they usually stood in a row on the edge of the nest facing the old 

 birds, and in most comical manner swung the head and neck up and down. I 

 have seen balanced mechanical toys which would make almost exactly the same 

 motion. The toys, however, were silent, while the little spoonbills all joined in 

 a chorus of tremulous, trilling whistles, which grew louder and more rapid as 

 the parent approached. What their parents brought them I could not see, nor, 

 for that matter, could they. But with a confidence born of experience, the bird 

 that had the first opportunity pushed its bill and head far down its parent's bill 

 tojget what ever was there. This singular operation sometimes lasted as long as 

 10 seconds, and it was terminated only by the parent which, much against the 

 will of its offspring, disengaged itself; then, after a short rest, a second young- 

 ster was fed, and thus in due time the whole family was satisfied. The young 

 now sank contentedly back in the nest, and the old ones stood quietly by, or 

 went back to the shores and marshes for further supplies. 



Audubon (1840) says: 



During the moult, which takes place in Florida late in May, the young of the 

 preceding year conceal themselves among the close branches of the mangroves 

 and other trees growing over narrow inlets, between secluded keys, or on bayous 

 where they spend the whole day, and whence it is difficult to start them. 

 Toward night they return to their feeding grounds, generally keeping apart from 

 the old Vjirds. 



Plumages. — The downy, young, roseate spoonbill is a "pink curlew" 

 and a real "spoonbill." The living young when seen in the nest is 

 decidedly pink in appearance, bright, rich salmon pink, but this is due 

 entirely to the color of the skin; the bill and feet are practically the 

 same color. This color fades more or less in the dried skin to "orange 

 pink" or "light salmon orange" and in some cases to dull yellow or 

 buff; one specimen that I have had in my collection for over 20 years 

 is still quite pink. The bill is broad and flat, Hke a duck's bill, and 

 somewhat decurved. The young bird, when first hatched, is entirely 

 covered with a sparse growth of short white down, through which 



