DIV. II. AVES AQUATICJE. WATER BIRDS. 



ORDER VII. GRALLjE. WADERS. 

 GENUS 64. PLATALEA. SPOONBILL. 



SPECIES. P. MAM. 



ROSEATE SPOONBILL, 



[Plate LXIIL Fig. 1.] 



Arct. Zool. JVo. 338. LATH. Syn. v. 3, p. 16, JVo. 2.~- La Spatule 

 couleur de Rose, BRISS, Orn. v, p. 356, 2, pi* 30. PL EnL p. 

 116. BUFF, vn, 456. PEALE'S Museum, 7Vo. 3553. 



THIS stately and elegant bird inhabits the seashores of 

 America, from Brazil to Georgia. It also appears to wander 

 up the Mississippi sometimes in summer, the specimen from 

 which the figure in the plate was drawn having been sent me 

 from the neighbourhood of Natchez, in excellent order; for 

 which favour I am indebted to the family of my late benevolent 

 and scientific friend, William Dunbar. esq., of that territory. 

 It is now deposited in Mr. Peale's museum. 



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

 Alatamaha 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 Hen- 

 derson 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 is said that the young are of a blackish chestnut the 

 VOL. in. H 



