104 ZOOLOGY. 



by which peculiarity of structure, they can without incon- 

 venience wade in shallow water in searcii of food, which for 

 the most part consists of small Aquatic Animals, Roots, and 

 Seeds ; most of the kinds are of a shy nature, and shun the 

 habitations of Man ; they usually nestle on the ground, 

 though this is not constant even in the same genus : the 

 genera Scolopax^ Tringa, and Charadrius^ all lay on the 

 ground, and their eggs, (four in number,) are constantly 

 placed with their smaller ends to the centre, by which dispo- 

 sition they occupy the least possible space. 



The flesh of such kinds as feed on insects and worms, is 

 accounted excellent food ; but that of the piscivorous kinds 

 is rank, and is generally rejected. There are eighteen 

 genera in the order, the only character they possess in com- 

 mon, is their half-naked thighs. 



1. Platalea. Spoon-bill. BzYHong, broad, flat, thin, and 



at the extremity, widened into a roundish form, not 



unlike a spoon ; nostrils small, placed near the base of 



the bill J tongue small, pointed ; toes four, semipal- 



" mated. 



This curious genus is not numerous, the species are dis- 

 persed thrci'gh Europe, Asia, Africa, and America : they 

 feed on frogs and other reptiles, also on aquatic plants. 

 The common '^poon-bill, (P. Leucorodice.) which is some- 

 times met with in this country, builds its nest in lofty trees, 

 and is mostly found by the sides of rivers, or on the sea-shore, 

 its eggs and young are esteemed as food. Briiish Ornitho' 

 logy, vol. 2. 



