194 ROSEATE SPOONBILL. 
ovate, rather compact above, blended beneath. Wings long and very 
broad ; primaries firm, broad, tapering, but rounded, the second longest, 
the third next, the first a quarter of an inch shorter ; secondaries broad 
and broadly rounded. Tail short, even, of twelve rather broad, 
abruptly rounded feathers. 
Bill yellowish-grey at the base, mottled with brownish-black, in the 
rest of its extent pale greenish-blue, light on the margins; base of 
margin of lower mandible greenish-yellow. Iris bright carmine. Feet 
pale lake ; claws brownish-black. Head yellowish-green ; space around 
the eye and the gular sac orpiment orange; a band of black from the 
lower mandible to the occiput. Feathers of the neck white. Back 
and wings of a beautiful delicate rose colour; the lower parts of a 
deeper tint; the tuft of recurved feathers on the fore neck, a broad 
band across the wing along the cubitus, and the upper and lower tail- 
coverts, of a rich and pure carmine with silky lustre. The shafts of 
all the quills and scapulars are light carmine. On each side of the 
lower part of the neck and fore part of the body a patch of pale ochre. 
Tail feathers ochre-yellow, but at the base pale roseate, with the shafts 
carmine. 
Length to end of tail 302 inches, to end of wings 293, to end of 
claws 36; extent of wings 53; bill 7; breadth of gape 13, depth of 
pouch 2; breadth of bill at the base 13; at the end 2;4; bare part of 
tibia 3; tarsus 4; hind toe and claw 114; second toe and claw 2;% ; 
middle toe and claw 33%: outer toe and claw 3;;; wing from flexure 
151; tail 42. Weight 4 lb. 2 oz. 
The female is smaller, but resembles the male. 
Length to end of tail 28 inches, to end of wings 28, to end of claws 
353; extent of wings 48. Weight 3 lb. 
The affinities of this remarkable bird being variously represented ° 
by authors, it becomes a matter of considerable interest to determine 
its relations according to its internal organs. The skin is thin, but 
tough, and the subcutaneous cellular tissue is largely developed. In 
these respects its affinity is to the Ibises and Curlews, as much at least 
as to any other birds. On the roof of the mouth are two rows of blunt 
papille, as in many Scolopacide. The tongue is extremely small, 
being only 3 twelfths of an inch in length, but 7 twelfths in breadth at 
the base, where it is emarginate and furnished with numerous delicate 
