62 HKITJSH BIRDS. 



mity, where, in shape, it is widened and rounded 

 like a spatula: it is rimmed on the edges with 

 black, and terminated with a small downward-bent 

 point or nib. The colour of the bill varies in dif- 

 ferent birds; in some, the little ridges which wave 

 across the upper bill are spotted, in others striped 

 with black or brown, and generally the ground 

 colour of both mandibles is in different shades of 

 deeper or lighter yellow: the insides, towards the 

 gape of the mouth, near the edges, are studded 

 with small hard tubercles, or furrowed prominences, 

 and are also rough near the extremities of the bill, 

 which enables them to hold their slippery prey. A 

 black bare skin extends from the bill round the 

 eyes, the irides of which are red; the skin which 

 covers the gullet is also black and bare, and is 

 capable of great distention. The feathers on the 

 hinder part of the head are long and narrow, and 

 form a sort of tuft or crest which falls behind. The 

 toes are connected near their junction by webs, 

 which reach the second joint of the outer toe, and 

 the first of the inner ones, and slightly border them 

 on each side to their extremities : the feet, legs, and 

 bare part of the thighs, are covered with a hard 

 and scaly skin of a dirty black. 



The White Spoonbill migrates northward in the 

 summer, and returns south on the approach of 

 winter, and is met with in all the intermediate low 

 countries, between the Ferro Isles and the Cape of 

 Good Hope. They were formerly numerous on the 

 marshes of Sevenhuys, near Leyden, in Holland. 

 In England, they are rare visitants : Pennant men- 

 tions that a flock of them migrated into the marshes 

 near Yarmouth, in April, 1774. 



