THE SPOONBILL 



Platalea leucorodea 



Plumage white all over, tinged with buff on the lower 

 part of the neck ; head crested ; beak flattened from above 

 downward, and terminating in a broad spoon-shaped expan- 

 sion ; eye red. 



When seen flying the Spoonbill can be readily 

 distinguished from the only other white Egyptian 

 bird, i.e. the Egret, because the former flies with 

 its neck extended, whilst the latter, being of the 

 Heron tribe, flies with its neck drawn back close 

 to the body. 



I have seen pictures in some of the Gurnah 

 tombs which, though crudely drawn, were un- 

 doubtedly meant for the Spoonbill. The old-time 

 artist was apparently so struck with the flat, spoon- 

 shaped beak that he deemed it a worthy subject 

 for the exercise of his art. But though faithfully 

 drawn in so far as its form is concerned, it is wrongly 

 depicted in its relation to the head, since the head 

 is shown in profile, while the beak is drawn as 

 though it were seen from above ! In no picture 

 that I can recall by these ancient draughtsmen is 

 any bird ever shown in the very slightest degree 

 foreshortened. 



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