20 BULLETIN 135, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



this is not so customary with spoonbills as with pelicans, cormorants, 

 and ibises. 



Audubon's (1840) account of their behavior is well worth quoting; 

 he writes: 



The sight of a flock of 15 or 20 of these full-dressed birds is extremely pleasing 

 to the student of nature, should he conceal himself from their view, for then he 

 may observe their movements and manners to advantage. Now, they all stand 

 with their wings widely extended to receive the sun's rays, or perhaps to court 

 the cooling breeze, or they enjoy either seated on their tarsi. Again they all 

 stalk about with graceful steps along the margin of the muddy pool, or wade in 

 the shallows in search of food. After awhile they rise simultaneously on wing, and 

 gradually ascend in a spiral manner to a great height, where you see them crossing 

 each other in a thousand ways, like so many vultures or ibises. At length, tired 

 of this pastime, or perhaps urged by hunger, they return to their feeding grounds 

 in a zigzag course, and plunge through the air, as if displaying their powers of 

 flight before you. These birds fly with their necks stretched forward to their 

 full length, and their legs and feet extended behind, moving otherwise in the 

 manner of herons, or with easy flappings, until about to alight, when they sail 

 with expanded wings, passing once or twice over the spot, and then gently com- 

 ing to the ground, on which they run a few steps. When traveling to a distant 

 place they proceed in regular ranks, but on ordinary occasions they fly in a con- 

 fused manner. When the sun is shining, and they are wheeling on wing pre- 

 vious to alighting, their roseate tints exhibit a richer glow, which is surpassed only 

 by the brilliancy of the scarlet ibis and the American flamingo. 



The vocal performances of the roseate spoonbill are not elaborate 

 or conspicuous. The only note I heard from them on their breeding 

 grounds was a grunting croak in a low key and so subdued as not to 

 be audible at any great distance. Doctor Chapman (1914) refers to 

 it as ''a low, croaking call." Audubon does not mention it, Mr. 

 Benners (1887) describes it as "a sort of cluck like a hen." 



FaW.— After the breeding season is over, either early or late in the 

 spring, these birds spread out over a wider territory, which they 

 occupy more or less regularly during the summer, fall, and early 

 winter. This spreading out includes what might be called a north- 

 ward migration; it is between breeding seasons that the northward 

 extension of range is made. The birds which breed on the east 

 coast of Mexico, in the lagoons south of Tampico, migrate in the 

 spring northward to the coast of Texas and perhaps beyond. On 

 this subject Samuel N. Rhoads (1892) writes: 



On the 28th of May, accompanied by Mr. Priour, I sailed down to the mouth 

 of the Nueces River in search of these birds. At a distance of 2 miles a couple 

 of large flocks could be described as a dull rosy streak along the water's edge. 

 We approached near enough to make, with the aid of a glass, an excellent survey 

 of the flocks in the act of feeding before they noticed our presence. When 

 within about 200 yards of them, the whole company of four or five hundred 

 individuals simultaneously raised their heads and faced about. On approaching 

 some 50 yards nearer, the sudden righting about just mentioned was succeeded 

 by a most interesting series of maneuvers, consisting of a contraction and filling 

 in of all the gaps in the line; and just as this was completed, with a rush of 



