THE SPOONBILL. 



Plataica leucorodia. 



T one time this handsome and 

 somewhat singular - looking 

 bird was far more frequently 

 met with in this country than 

 it is at the present day. The 

 continual increase in agricul- 

 tural pursuits, and the neces- 

 sary draining and reclamation 

 of fenny and marshy land, has 

 materially contracted the ex- 

 tent and number of its haunts, 

 and consequently the Spoon- 

 bill, like the Bittern and one 

 or two other interesting birds, 

 is gradually, but surely, be- 

 coming scarce. 



According to some of the 

 older writers on birds, the 



• Spoonbill used to breed regu- 

 larly and in considerable num- 

 bers in England, notably at 

 the herneries at Claxton and 

 Rudham ; but circumstances 

 have changed considerably 

 since those days, and now, at 



