ROSEATE SPOONBILL. 143 



bourhood of Natchez, in excellent order j for which 

 favour I am indebted to the family of my late benevolent 

 and scientific friend, William D unbar, 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 sea shore and 

 the mouths of rivers. Captain Henderson 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. According to Latham, the young are of 

 a blackish chestnut the first year ; of the roseate colour 

 of the present the second year ; and of a deep scarlet the 

 third. Having never been so fortunate as to meet with 

 them in their native wilds, I regret my inability to 

 throw any farther light on their history and manners. 

 These, it is probable, may resemble, in many respects, 

 those of the European species, the white spoonbill 

 once so common in Holland.* To atone for this 

 deficiency, I have endeavoured faithfully to describe 

 this American species. 



This bird measured two feet six inches in length, 

 and near four feet in extent ; the bill was six inches 

 and a half long from the corner of the mouth, seven 

 from its upper base, two inches over at its greatest 

 width, and three quarters of an inch where narrowest ; 

 of a black colour for half its length, and covered with 

 hard scaly protuberances, like the edges of oyster shells ; 



* The European species breeds oil trees, by the sea side ; lays 

 three or four white eggs, powdered with a few pale red spots, aud 

 about the size of those of a hen ; are very noisy during breeding 

 time ; feed on fish, mussels, &c. which, like the bald eagle, they 

 frequently take from other birds, frightening them by clattering 

 their bill : they are also said to eat grass, weeds, and roots of reeds : 

 they are migratory ; their flesh reported to savour that of a goose j 

 the young are reckoned good food. 



