146 SPOON-BILLS. 



in almost every other particular, and, like that bird, 

 will dart with fury at the object of its anger; it is 

 found in the hot and damp parts of South America, 

 frequenting the banks of fresh-water streams. 



The Spoon-bill cannot be mistaken, the round and 

 flattened termination of its beak, at once pointing- 

 out the name. Sometimes, but rarely, they are 

 found in England. Near Holyhead, in the island of 

 Anglesey, a very fine specimen was shot and pre- 

 served in 1832. It was first seen early in May, 

 feeding at low water, in company with some Herons, 

 on the marine productions left by the tide, but was 

 so shy, that some weeks had elapsed before it was 

 killed, at three o'clock in the morning, by a man 

 who had marked its roosting-place, on a small 

 rocky island, accessible only on foot at low water. 

 Another was also killed about this time, at no 

 great distance from the same place. When rising 

 from the ground, it always made several wide circles 

 before getting into full flight. It w r as very shy, 

 and never could be approached nearer than one 

 hundred yards. 



The Flamingo is by far the most striking of 

 these three genera; its scientific name is Phcenicop- 

 terus^ from two Greek words, signifying u wings of 

 flame," their beautiful carnation colour contrasting 

 with the plumes of the neck and and body, which 

 in one species are of delicate white. It is a most 

 extraordinary bird. Its legs are of an excessive 

 length, and so slender, that at a little distance, 

 standing, as they usually do, on one alone, it is not 

 easily seen, and the bird appears as if stationary in 

 the air. But the chief singularity is in the bill, 



