176 A HISTORY OF 



and stilt-like legs of the crane are found, they make too striking a 

 resemblance, not to admit such birds of the number ; and though the 

 bill, or even the toes should entirely differ, yet the outlines of the fi- 

 gure, and the natural habits and dispositions being the same, these 

 are sufficient to mark their place in the general group of Nature. 



The spoonbill is one of those birds which differs a good deal from 

 the crane, yet approaches this class more than any other. The body 

 is more bulky from its height, and the bill is very differently formed 

 from that of any bird whatever. Yet still it is a comparatively tal\ 

 bird : it feeds among waters ; its toes are divided ; and it seems to 

 possess the natural dispositions of the crane. The European spoon 

 bill is of about the bulk of a crane ; but as the one is above four fee 

 high, the other is not more than three feet three inches. The com 

 mon colour of those of Europe is a dirty white ; but those of Ameri 

 ca are of a beautiful rose colour, or a delightful crimson. Beauty oi 

 plumage seems to be the prerogative of all the birds of that conti- 

 nent, and we here see the most splendid tints bestowed on a bird 

 whose figure is sufficient to destroy the effects of its colouring ; for 

 its bill is so oddly fashioned, and its eyes so stupidly staring, that its 

 fine feathers only tend to add splendour to deformity. The bill, 

 which in this bird is so very particular, is about seven inches long, 

 and running out broad at the end, as its name justly serves to de- 

 note, it is there about an inch and a half wide. This strangely 

 fashioned instrument in some is black ; in others of a light grey, and 

 in those of America, it is of a red colour, like the rest of the body. 

 All round the upper chap there runs a kind of rim, with which it 

 covers that beneath ; and as for the rest, its cheeks and its throat are 

 without feathers, and covered with a black skin. 



A bird so oddly fashioned, might be expected to possess some 

 very peculiar appetites ; but the spoonbill seems to lead a life en- 

 tirely resembling all those of the crane kind ; and Nature, when she 

 made the bill of this bird so very broad, seems rather to have sported 

 with its form, than to aim at any final cause for which to adapt it. 

 In fact, it is but a poor philosophy to ascribe every capricious variety 

 in Nature to some salutary purpose : in such solutions we only im- 

 pose upon each other, and often wilfully contradict our own belief. 

 There must be imperfections in every being, as well as capacities of 

 enjoyment. Between both, the animal leads a life of moderate feli- 

 city ; in part making use of its many natural advantages, and in part 

 necessarily conforming to the imperfection of its figure. 



The shoveler chiefly feeds upon frogs, toads, and serpents, of 

 which, particularly at the Cape of Good Hope, they destroy great 

 numbers. The inhabitants of that country hold them in as much 

 esteem as the ancient Egyptians did their bird Ibis : the shoveler runs 

 tamely about their houses ; and they are content with its society, as 

 a useful, though a homely companion. They are never killed ; and 

 indeed they are good for nothing when they are dead, for the flesh is 

 unfit to be eaten. 



This bird breeds in Europe, in company with the heron, in high 

 trees ; and in a nest formed of the same materials. Willoughby tells 

 us, that in a certain grove, at a village called Seven Huys, near Ley* 

 den, they build and breed yearly in great numbers. In this grove, 



