641 
PLATALEA. SPOONBILL. 
Generic Character. 
Rostrum longum, latum, rec- 
tum ; supra subtusque pla- 
num, flexlbile, apice dila- 
tato, spathaeformi. 
Nares parvae, ad basin rostri, 
membrana fimbriatse. 
Caput faciesque plus mi- 
nusve calvae. 
Pedes tetradactyli, semi-pal- 
mati ; pollice humi in- 
cumbens. 
Alee mediocres. 
Beale long, broad, straight, 
smooth both above and 
beneath, flexible, the tip 
dilated and spoon-shaped. 
small, situated at the 
base of the beak, and bor- 
dered by a membrane. 
Head and face more or less 
bald. 
Legs four-toed, slightly web- 
bed ; the hinder toe rest- 
ing upon the ground. 
JVmgs medial. 
Platalea. Linn., GmeL, Lath., Cuv., Vieil., Tenini. 
Platea, Ray, Briss., Leach. 
TL HE Spoonbills live in society in the maritime 
marshes, or near the mouths of great rivers, rarely 
occurring inland : they feed upon small fishes, 
their fry, and mollusca ; also on frogs, and other 
reptiles and aquatic insects : they build on high 
trees, in bushes, or amongst rushes. They are 
migratory birds. 
V. XI. P. II. 
42 
