THE SPOONBILL. 87 



As may be imagined by the sort of food it takes, the 

 Spoonbill resorts to marshes, ditches, damp low-lying 

 grounds, fens, muddy tidal rivers, and pools left by the 

 receding tide on the sea-shore. It is said to make a 

 peculiar rattling noise with its bill. It is a retired, un- 

 obtrusive bird in its wild state, and generally seen flying 

 at a very considerable height, but when captive becomes 

 tame, feeding freely, and soon showing signs of attach- 

 ment, especially if taken when young. It is a great 

 attraction in Regent's Park and near other ornamental 

 waters. 



The nest is commonly built either in a tree, or else on 

 the ground amongst reeds and rushes ; it is roughly put 

 together, and consists of sticks, dried roots, and coarse 

 grass. Generally, if the locality permits, several nests are 

 to be found close together ; the eggs are about two-and-a* 

 half inches in length ; they vary in number from two to 

 four, some entirely white, and others white, spotted with 

 light brownish-red. 



The length of the Spoonbill is about thirty-one or 

 thirty-two inches ; the bill, which is its peculiar charac- 

 teristic, is black, marked with lead colour and yellow at the 

 point : it is about nine inches long, strong, and flattened 

 out at the extremity into the shape of a spoon, from 

 which circumstance, of course, the name is derived ; the skin 

 of the chin and part of the throat is naked and yellow, the 

 irides red. With the exception of a band of buff-coloured 

 feathers at the bottom of the neck, and a narrow stripe of 

 the same up the sides of the neck, the whole of the 

 plumage is white ; on the back of the head the feathers 

 are lengthened, and form a distinct plume. The legs, toes, 

 and claws are black, and the toes are connected a little 



