98 SHOKE BIRDS. 



H. SPOONBILLS -AJVI> 



Large birds with long bills, long necks and long legs ; 

 the wings are broad, the secondaries being Considerably 

 lengthened and are as long or longer than the primaries in 

 the closed wing; tail short; hind toe quite well developed 

 and on a level with the anterior toes which are more or less 

 webbed at base; body stout and compact. Aquatic, fre- 

 quenting mud flats and muddy shores of both salt and fresh 

 water. Food, crabs, crayfish, and other small crustaceans 

 also small fishes. Flight, direct and rapid with quick wing 

 beats; the neck is extended and the feet held straight out 

 behind. Nests, placed in trees, composed of sticks. Social, 

 often gathering in large flocks. Cries, harsh and unmusical. 



A. SPOONBILLS. Plataleidae. 

 Bill, flattened, greatly broadened and spoon-shaped at 

 the end ; only slightly curved at tip ; head and portion of neck 

 naked. Eggs, 2-4, ashy-white spotted and mottled with pale 

 reddish-brown. Sexes, similar, fig. 113. 



o, American Spoonbills. Ajaja. 



Characters as above. 



I. EOSEATE SPOONBILL, A. AJAJA. 30.00; bill, 6.00; 

 r o s e-p ink through- Fig. 113. 



out, lightest on 

 neck ; carmine on re- 

 c-urved feathers of 

 neck, patch on wing, 

 and upper and u 

 der tail coverts ; tail, 

 brownish orange ; 

 naked head, green ; 

 space around eye and s 

 throat, orange, line 

 on side of head, 

 black; bill, bluish; U, A, o* 1-1-20- 



feet, pinkish ; iris carmine, fig. 113. Young, differs in hav- 



