764 BIRDS OP INDIA. 



The female is said to be a little smaller ; and the young wants 

 the crest, has the shafts of the quills and the tips of the primaries 

 black, the naked orbits dingy white, and the bill dark-ashy, soft 

 and flexible. The patch of buff on the breast is said not to 

 appear till the 2nd or 3rd year. 



The Spoon-bill is found throughout India, not perhaps in great 

 abundance, but generally diffused, frequenting rivers, lakes, and 

 tanks. It is generally met with in small parties, occasionally in rather 

 large flocks ; feeds in shallow water, moving its bill about from side 

 to side and picking up various aquatic insects and larva?, small Crus- 

 tacea and molluscs, and also frogs and fish. It is very frequently 

 seen in company with the White Ibis, both when feeding and when 

 flying from one part of the country to another. The Spoon-bill 

 breeds, occasionally at all events, in this country, though probably 

 many migrate to Central Asia at the breeding season. Burgess 

 found the nest in lofty trees, and Layard also met with them in 

 Ceylon. The eggs are said to be chalky white, with a few faint 

 rusty blotches. Occasionally it appears to nidificate in marshes, 

 making a large nest of weeds, fixed to reeds in the water. 



The Spoon-bill is found throughout the greater part of Asia? 

 Europe, and Africa. Pallas asserts that its voice, though rarely 

 heard, is stridulous. It is excellent eating. 



Other species of Spoon-bill are Platalea major, and P. minor, 

 Temm. and Schleg., from Japan, very closely allied to our species, 

 one or both of which may possibly occur in India ; P. ajaya, 

 L., a very beautiful rose-coloured species from America ; and P. 

 melanorliynclms, Reich., {regia, Gould,) ; and P. jlavipes, Gould, 

 from Australia. 



Sub-fam. Anastomatiele. 



it 



Bill very thick, stout, coarse, gaping in the middle. 

 Bonaparte places this sub-family with the Storks, but its situ- 

 ation is undoubtedly in this family. 



Gen. Anastomus, Illiger. 



Syn. Hians, Lacepede. 



Char. — Bill moderately long, not deeply cleft, very thick, solid, 

 nearly straight ; mandibles nearly equal, not meeting in the middle, 



