334 HISTOUY OF 



differ, yet the outlines of the figure, 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 for its height, and the bill is very dif 

 ferently formed from that of any other bird whatever. Yet still 

 it is a comparatively tall bird ; it feeds among waters ; its toes 

 are divided ; and it seems to possess the natural dispositions of 

 the crane. The European spoonbill is of about the bulk of a 

 crane; but as the one is above four feet high, the other is not 

 more than three feet three inches. The common colour of 

 those of Europe is a dirty white ; but those of America are of 

 a beautiful rose colour, or a delightful crimson. Beauty of 

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

 continent ; 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 splen- 

 dour to deformity. The bill, which in this bird is so very par- 

 ticular, is about seven inches long, and running out broad at 

 the end, as its name justly serves to denote, it is there about 

 an inch and a half wide. This strangely fashioned instrument 

 in some is black; in others of a light gray; 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.* 



* The Spoonbills are voyaging- birds, not very wild, and show no aver- 

 sion to living in a state of captivity. They are found in almost all conntries 

 of the old world. In Europe they are seen but seldom in the anterior parts, 

 and are only passagery on some lakes or the banks of rivers. They frequent 

 the marshy coasts of Holland, of Brittany, and of Picardy. They are also 

 seen in Prussia, in Silesia, and in Poland, and in summer they advance as 

 fai as West Bothnia and Lapland. They are .again to be found on the coasts 

 of Africa, in Kgypt, and at the Cape of Gkiod Hope, where they are called 

 Slangen-wreeter, that is, serpent-eaters. Commerson has seen them at 

 Madagascar, where the islanders give them the name of Fungutt-am-bani, 

 which means spade-bilL The negroes in some districts call them Vang.van, 

 and in others Vourou Doulou, or birds of the deviL 



The White Spoonbill is an occasional, but rare visitor of this country. 

 They rise very high, and fly in wav'ng lines. Their flesh is tolerably gooii 



