NATURAL HISTORY. 



BOTAURUS. 



Stellaris (Lat. starry), the Bittern. 



its neck. In size, it is a little less than the heron. It feeds 

 principally on small reptiles, field mice, and fish. Its nest 

 is built on some slight elevation in a morass, and contains five 

 bluish green eggs. 



THE WHITE SPOONBILL. 



The COMMON SPOONBILL is found in Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa, and frequents Holland, together with the stork. The 

 strange shape of the tip of its beak has gained it the name 

 of Spoonbill. It has rarely been taken in this country. It 

 feeds on worms, snails, and water plants, searching for the 

 latter by agitating the water with its broad beak. 



The nest of the White Spoonbill is sometimes placed in 



