290 ORNITHOLOGY OF CORNWALL. 



unavailing, as they are to be found in the works of all the British 

 authors on Ornithology. 



The "Hooded Crow," " Pied Flycatcher " (a species confined 

 to the Midland Counties, and only observed in Cornwall occasion- 

 ally in the migratory season), and " Spoonbill," were observed at 

 Scilly in the last autumn ; the latter in company with Common 

 Herons, which seem to frequent a particular island or rock to the 

 north-east of Trescoe, called Hedge Bock, for what particular 

 reason does not appear. The Spoonbill appeared to be quite as- 

 sociated with the Herons, and feeding with them I suppose on 

 small fish. The general form and structure of the Spoonbill seem 

 to point to the Ardeidce till we look at the beaks of the two 

 species or rather genera. And in the Spoonbill we see one of 

 those remarkable modifications of forms which nature now and 

 then shows, proving at the same time how an organ totally difi'er- 

 ent in form and character in two birds can be made applicable to 

 the one and the same purpose of procuring the like description of 

 food. 



