24: 



ki<:y to the water birds of Florida. 



ORDER hp:rodiones. 



Herons, Storks, Iuises, Etc. 



Suborder I bides. 



Spoonbills and Ibises. 



Family PLATALEID.E. Spooniulls. 



Gen IS AJAJA Rekii. 



AJAJA AJAJA (Z ///;/.). 

 Roseate Spoonbill. 



Back and win^s a delicate rose white ; under parts showing rose color ; hare skin of the head 

 o-reenish and yellow; bill widened at the tip, somewhat spoon-shaped but tiat, tinted with green- 

 ish and yellowish ; legs dull red. Very old birds have the lesser wing coverts and upper tail 

 coverts brilliant carmine red. 



The immature bird has general plumage pale pinkisli wliite witii no red on the lesser wing 

 coverts. 



Length, 31 ; Wing, 15 ; Tarsus. 4.10: Bill, 6.30. 



