Div. II. AVES aquaticj:. water birds. 



ORDER VII. GRALLA WADERS. 



Genus LXIV. PLATALEA. SPOONBILL. 



§PECiES. P. AJAJA. 



ROSEATE SPOONBILL. 



[Plate LXIII. Fig. 1.] 



Arct. Zool. No. 338. — Lath. Syn. in., p. 16, No. 2.^La Spatule couleur de Rose, 

 Briss. Orn. v., p. 356, 2, pi. 30.— P/. Enl. p. 116.— Buff, vii., 456. 



This stately and elegant bird inhabits the seashores of America, from 

 Brazil to Georgia. It also appears to wander up the Mississippi some- 

 times in summer, the specimen from which the figure in the plate was 

 drawn having been sent me from the neighborhood of Natchez, in ex- 

 cellent order ; for which favor I am indebted to the family of my late 

 benevolent and scientific friend, William Dunbar, Esq., of that territory. 



This species, however, is rarely seen to the northward of the Alata- 

 maha river ; and even along the Peninsula of Florida is a scarce bird. 

 In Jamaica, several other of the West India Islands, Mexico, and 

 Guiana, it is more common, but confines itself chiefly to the seashore, 

 and the mouths of rivers. Captain Henderson says, it is frequently 

 seen at Honduras. It wades about in quest of shell-fish, marine insects, 

 small crabs and fish. In pursuit of these, it occasionally swims and 

 dives. 



There are few facts on record relative to this very singular bird. It 

 ii said that the young are of a blackish chestnut the first year ; of the 

 roseate color of the present the second year ; and of a deep scarlet the 

 third.* 



Having never been so fortunate as to meet with them in their native 

 wilds, I regret my present inability to throw any farther light on their 

 history and manners. These, it is probable, may resemble, in many 

 respects, those of the European species, the White Spoonbill, once so 



* Latham. 

 Vol. II.— 19 (289) 



