The Roseate Spoonbill 217 



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. 



Shortly after birth, Spoonbills are covered with a snowy white down, 

 through which one can see enough of their pink skin to give them a pinkish 

 appearance. The feathers, however, are not colored. While they are in the 

 nest, this plumage, 'natal down' as it is called, is followed by what is known 

 as the 'Juvenal plumage' in which they leave the nest. 



In general appearance they now strongly resemble their parents; but 

 the head and throat are thinly covered with white feathers, and the rusty 

 marks at the sides of the breast and end of the tail of the adult are replaced 

 by pink. 



In the Mexican colony, four was the usual number of young. They were 

 well-behaved youngsters and, in the absence of their parents, rested peace- 

 fully 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 a 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 to get 

 whatever was there. This singular operation sometimes lasted as long as 

 ten 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 

 youngster 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. 



