THE SPOONBILL. 181 



Ham Jardine, writing in 1842, merely referred to what had been 

 stated in Dr. Fleming's ' History of British Animals/ published 

 in 1828, where Sibbald is mentioned as having noticed the 

 species to be an accidental visitant to Scotland, and as having 

 been received from Orkney. It is said also to have " been shot 

 in Zetland" (p. 94). Like all the other rare birds of this family 

 (Ardeida), noticed in the preceding pages, the one now under 

 consideration retires far southward to winter. 



When visiting the Zoological Garden, Kegent's Park, London, 

 in May 1834, I was gratified by observing the affection subsisting 

 between a spoonbill and a black stork (Ciconia nigra). The bill 

 of the latter was much broken ; but its companion afforded the 

 use of his, and was busily engaged dressing the breast plumage, 

 and perhaps endeavouring to destroy the parasitical insects of the 

 stork. After he had performed this kind office for some time and 

 ceased, the stork put down his bill, and worked, as well as he could 

 with a broken instrument, among his feathers : tins was a signal 

 for the spoonbill to renew his efforts, and he recommenced the 

 friendly task. Each bird having one leg drawn up all the time, 

 caused the whole scene to be rather comical. The operation over, 

 the two birds continued close together, the spoonbill figuratively 

 under the shadow of the stork's wing. The latter bird is quite a 

 distinguished individual, having, in the words of Mr. YarrelL 

 " stood for his portrait to illustrate the ornithological works of 

 Mr. Bennett, Mr. Selby, Mr. Gould, Mr. Meyer, my own, and 

 probably those of several others."* 



* Brit. Birds, vol. ii. p. 498. 



