CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 1. GRALLATORES. 



283 



partly spread — upon the whole assuming a most ferocious aspect. When either could obtain a 

 firm hold of the bill, a leap succeeded, accompanied by a stroke of the wing ; but they rarely in- 

 jured each other." These birds, with the females, called Reeves^ are taken alive in the fenny dis- 

 tricts of England, and fattened upon bread and milk or boiled wheat, before being sent to market, 

 where they fetch from thirty shillings to two guineas, or more, per dozen. They are also imported 

 into London from Holland. They are migratory, and the range is extensive over Europe and Asia. 

 A specimen of this is said to have been found on Long Island. 



THE AEDEID^ OR HERONS. 



This family includes several groups of remarkable birds, generally of stately forms, stalking 

 majestically along, or standing sedately still, watching for their prey. Their legs are long and 

 slender ; the bill long and strong ; the wings large and powerful. They frequent the margins of 

 water, feeding upon small aquatic animals of various kinds. They are generally migratory, some 

 of them performing very long journeys. 



Genus PLATALEA : Platalea. — This includes the Siioonhills^ distinguished by the very 

 singular form of their bills, which are flattened, gradually nan-owed from the base to a little 

 beyond the middle, and expanded at the extremity into a flat oval disc. The toes are connected 

 by membranes at the base. The Common White Spoonbill — P. leucorodia of Europe, Cucchi- 

 aorone of the Italians, Spatule of the French, Lbffel Gans of the Germans — is about thirty or thirty- 





THE ROSEATE SPOONBILL. 



j two inches in length, and is generally distributed over the continent of Europe, but is a rare bird 

 I in England. It is found in Africa, as far south as the Cape of Good Hope, and in India. It is 

 j migratory in its habits, retreating to the South of Europe and North Africa during the winter, 

 ] and advancing far to the north during the summer to breed. One of its favorite summer resi- 

 dences, however, is Holland, where it occurs in great numbers. Its food consists of small fishes, 

 moUusca, worms, and insects. 



The Roseate Spoonbill, P. ajaja, is two feet six inches long ; plumage of a beautiful rose- 

 color ; the wings carmine. It is common in the West Indies, Guiana, Mexico, and the southern 

 parts of the United States. It lives along the sea-coasts and the mouths of rivers, where it is seen 



