?C THE SPOON-BILL. 



is white ; the upper part of the bill is black ; the fore- 

 head green ; around and below the eye, orange ; and 

 the tail brownish yellow. 



Where is this bird found ? 



The Roseate Spoon-bill is found on the American 

 coast, from Georgia to Brazil. 



What is the shape of this bird ? 



The shape of this bird, except the bill, is similar to 

 that of the crane, but the peculiar shape and great size 

 of this part gives the Spoon-bill a very singular ap- 

 pearance. 



The billof the present species is about seven inches 

 long, and so large at the upper part, as to appear like 

 a continuation of the head itself. From the upper part 

 it grows smaller downward, but towards the end 

 spreads out again to the width of two inches and a 

 a half. 



The head is entirely naked of feathers, and the neck 

 is so slightly covered, as every where to shew the 

 skin. 



A bird so singularly made might be supposed to 

 possess some peculiar qualities, or habits, but the 

 Spoon-bill, so far as is known, leads a life quite similar 

 to the crane and other waders. It is, however, prob- 

 able that there is some especial advantage which the 

 bird derives from the size and shape of bis bill, be- 

 cause nature does not furnish such peculiar appenda- 

 ges, without some useful design. 



This bird, when on the sea-shore, lives entirely oh 

 fish, but away from the sea, he eats frogs, and insect*. 

 At the Cape of Good Hope, Spoon-bills are tamed, 

 and make themselves useful in the houses, by destroy- 

 ing insects and reptiles. 



