Class II. WHITE SPOONBILL. ^ 



almost imperceptible, which with the skin on that ' • 



part, are of a very bright orange-color ; irides 

 of the eyes a bright flame-color, very lively and 

 vivid j the whole bill (except the above spot) of 

 a fine shining black j its upper surface elegantly 

 waved with dotted protuberances ; a depressed 

 line extending from the nostrils (which are three- 

 eighths of an inch long, and situate half an inch 

 below the upper part of the bill) is continued 

 round it about one eighth of an inch from its 

 edge; its substance has something of the ap- 

 pearance of vvhale bone, thin, light, and elastic. 

 Inside of the mouth a dark ash-color, almost 

 black ; the tongue (remarkably singular) being 

 very short, heart shaped, and when drawn back, 

 serving as a valve to close the entrance of the 

 throat, which it seems to do effectually ; when 

 pulled forward has the appearance of a triangu- 

 lar button ; the ears, or auditory apertures, large, 

 and placed an inch behind the angles of the 

 mouth. Plumage of the whole body, wings, 

 and tail white ; on the back part of the head a 

 beautiful crest of white feathers, hanging pen- 

 dent behind the neck 3 their length about five 

 inches ; which, in the living subject, gives it a 

 very beautiful appearance. 



Weight of the fowl, three days after killedj 

 was three pounds and a half. 



