PLATALEINiE. 763 



children who used to tease it, spreading its wings and tail, and 

 clattering its mandibles together. I have never heard it utter any 

 cry, and believe that it wants the proper vocal muscles. 



It is replaced in the Malay countries by T. lacteus, Temminck ; 

 and there are other species in Africa and America, T. ibis, and 

 T. loculator. 



Sub-fam. Platalein^. 

 Bill very broad, flat, and depressed. 



Gen. Platalea, Linn^us. 



CAan — Bill long, very broad, depressed and thin, dilated, and 

 rounded at the extremity, like a spatula ; nostrils basal, oblong, 

 apert ; wings moderate, 2nd quill longest ; tibia bare for nearly 

 half its length ; tarsus moderately long, reticulated ; the three an- 

 terior toes united at the base by a deeply cut web ; head and face 

 more or less nude. 



The trachea of the adult bird makes a figure of eight convolution 

 before its bifurcation ; but has no proper muscle of voice, and 

 the bird is therefore, like the Storks, quite dumb. The tongue is 

 very short and obtuse. 



939. Platalea leucorodia, Linnjeus. 



Bltth, Cat. 1625— Sykes, Cat. 182— Jerdon, Cat. 312— 

 Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 286 — Chamach buza, H., i. e., Spoon 

 Ibis — Chinta, Beng. — Genta muku konga, Tel. 



The Spoon-bill. 



Descr. — Plumage pure white, with a patch of bufiy-yellow 

 on the upper part of the breast, extending up the sides towards 

 the back ; the crest composed of long subulate and canaliculate 

 feathers placed on the occiput. 



Bill black, more or less mottled with yellowish undulations 

 during . the winter, ochry-yellow at the tip ; irides blood-red ; 

 naked skin of face and gular skin orange-yellow ; legs black. 

 Length 31 to 36 inches; wing 14^ to 16; tail 6^; bill at front 

 7y^j to 8^ ; breadth nearly 2 ; tarsus 5 to 6. 



