PLATALKA AJAJA. 403 



breed in Florida. Specimens of this species have been taken along the Eas-tern Section of 

 the United States, as far north as New Hampshire, two being taken at Orleans, Massachu- 

 setts, during the first week in May, 1878, one of which is in the collection of the Bangs 

 Brothers. These, and all others which I ha\e examined, were evidently stragglers from 

 the Old World or from South America, but whether the Florida birds which I found, be- 

 longed to this class, remains to be proved. I am under the impression, however, that I 

 have somewhere seen a specimen, taken in Florida, which did not resemble the Texan form. 



GENUS II. PLATALEA. THE SPOONBILLS. 



GEN. CH. Bill, but sliyhtly curved, more than twice as lony as head, much flattened, and widely expanded at the round- 

 ed tip. Sterno-trachealis , absent. Webs between toes, larye . 



Member* of this genus are remarkable fjr the singularly flattened bill. The trachea is also peculiar, being elevated, 

 ad the bronchial fefttai are greatly elongated. The intestines are small and long. Sexes, similar. There is but one spe- 

 cies within oar limits. 



PLATALEA AJAJA. 

 Roseate Spoonbill. 

 Platalea ajaja LINN., Syst. Nat., I; 1766, 231. 

 DESCRIPTION. 



EP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. Tongue, very short, only *25 long, triangular in form, with the tip pointed. 

 Sternum, stout. Outer marginal indentations, equal in depth to inner. 



Hi. Ailu/t. llosy-re.l throughout, brightest beneath, and much lighter on neck. Tuft of recurved feathers on 

 neck, hand on wing, and upper and lower tail coverts, rich carmine. Patch on sideof neck, paleorange. Tail, hrownish- 

 uranjte, rosy at base. Head, naked, green in color, with space around eye and gular sac, bright orange, while a line of 

 bi:u-k extends from bill to occiput. Bill, bluish, mottled with dusky at base. Feet, pinkish. Iris, deep carmine. 



Young. Similar to the adult, but much paler, and lack the bright markings, while the tail is rosy and the primaries 

 are tipped with dusky. Iris and feet, brown. Bill, yellowish, brown at base. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known from all others by the spoon-like bill, and rosy colors as described. Distributed, as a constant resident, in Flor- 

 ida. Rare in summer, as far north as the Carolinas. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 29*35; stretch, 51 '50; wing, 14*50; tail, 4*75; bill, 6'35; tar- 

 sus, 3*50. Longest specimen, 30*75; greatest extent of wing, 53*00; longest wing, 15*00; tail, 5 00; bill, 7*00; tarsus, 4*00. 

 Shortest specimen, 28*00; smallest extent of wing, 48*00: shortest' wing, 14*00; tail, 4*50; bill, 6*75; tarsus,, 3*00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees, composed of sticks loosely arranged. Egg*, two or three in number, oval in form, ashy-white 

 in color, spotted and blotched, rather sparcely, with pale reddish-brown. Dimensions from I*70x2'50 to 1*75x2*60. 



HABITS. 



When I first visited Florida, I was quite surprised to hear the inhabitants speak of the 

 Pink Curlews as being very common, and I naturally supposed that the Scarlet Ibis was 

 the species they had in mind; but upon further inquiries, I found that this appellation 

 was applied to the Roseate Spoonbills, and learned that the Scarlet Ibis was entirely un- 

 knewn in the State. Years ago, the Roseate Spoonbills were found throughout Florida, 

 lint as their feathers have long been valuable for ornaments, the birds have been extermi- 

 nated or driven away from the Northern, Eastern, and Middle Sections, and now are found 

 in numbers, only on the Western coast, even being rare on the Keys. The Spoonbills are 

 not unlike the White Ibis in general habits, but differ from this species in breeding in the 

 interior. They may be seen feeding on the muddy Hats of the coast, in spring and winter, 

 but late in summer and in autumn, they wander more, at which time they are found about 

 the lakes in the interior of the State. These handsome birds are exceedingly graceful in 



