PLATALEID^E— THE SPOONBILLS. 104* 



reason to believe reliable, that, some twenty years previously, 

 or about 1859, he shot several specimens about some ponds in 

 the Mississippi Bottoms, below St. Louis. More recently, I have 

 received a letter from Mr. R. E. Kirkman, of Richmond, Indiana, 

 giving the information that a specimen was shot in Jay Co., 

 that state, July 14th, 1889. 



"According to Audubon the Roseate Spoonbill is to be met 

 with, for the most part, along the marshy or muddy borders 

 of estuaries, the mouths of rivers, on sea islands, or keys par- 

 tially overgrown with bushes, and still more abundantly along 

 the shores of the salt-water bayous so common within a mile 

 or two of the shore. There it can reside and breed, with almost 

 complete security, in the midst of an abundance of food. It is 

 said to be greijarious at all seasons, and that seldom less than 

 half a dozen may be seen together, unless they have been dis- 

 persed by a tempest, At the approach of the breeding-season 

 these small flocks collect together, forming immense collections, 

 after the manner of the Ibis, and resort to their former breed- 

 ing-places, to which they almost invariably return. Their moult 

 takes place late in May; during this time the young of the pre- 

 vious year conceal themselves among the mangroves, there 

 spending the day, and returning at night to their feeding-grounds, 

 but keeping apart from the old birds, which last have passed 

 through their spring moult earl3- in March. Like the several 

 species of Ibis, this bird is said occasionally to rise suddenly on 

 the wing, and ascend gradually, in a spiral manner, to a great 

 height. It flies with its neck stretched forward to its full length, 

 and its legs and feet extended behind. It moves in the manner 

 of a Heron, with easy flappings, until just as it is about to 

 ali<?ht, when it sails over the spot with expanded wing, and 

 comes gradually to the ground. It flies in a confused manner, 

 except when on one of its extended movements. 



"It is usually found in the company of different Herons, whose 

 vigilance apprises it of any danger. It can usually be ap- 

 proached, when feeding, with proper care. When one is wounded 

 in the wing it usually makes for deep water, and swims for 

 some distance without attempting to dive. If the wing is un- 

 injured, this bird, even though mortally wounded, will fly until 

 it drops dead. It is as nocturnal as the Night Heron, and its 



