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Family PLATALEID-El. 



Genus PLATALEA. 



Platea apud Brisson, Orn. v. p. 352 (1760). 

 Platalea, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 231 (1766). 



This very distinct group of birds is found in the Paraparetic, Ethiopian, Australian, Nearctic, and 

 Neotropical Regions, only one species inhabiting the Western Palsearctic Region. 



In general habits they are not unlike the Storks ; and their flight resembles that of those 

 birds. They frequent marshy localities, the borders of lakes and lagoons ; and I have also seen 

 them close to the sea-shore. They walk sedately and slowly, and may often be seen perched on 

 a tree. They are shy and wary ; and as they frequent open localities, they are most difficult of 

 approach. Their ciy is deep and Heron-like ; and they make a clapping noise with their bill 

 like Storks. They place their nest on a. tree, a bush, or in the reeds — a somewhat bulky 

 structure of sticks and flags lined with dry flags and rushes, — and deposit three or four white 

 eggs spotted with pale rufous. 



Platalea leucorodia, the type of the genus, has the bill long, straight, about as broad as the 

 head at the base, narrowed towards the middle, and then expanded into a broad disk, which is 

 slightly curved downwards at the tip, gape-line nearly straight ; nostrils linear, elliptical, 

 vertical ; space round and in front of the eye bare ; wings large and full, the first quill rather 

 shorter than the second, which is about equal to the third ; tail short, even ; legs long, rather 

 slender, the tibia bare on the lower half, reticulated ; tarsus rather stout, reticulated ; toes long, 

 moderately stout ; claws small, slightly arched, tapering, pointed. 



In the article on the Spoonbill I used Brisson' s generic title Platea, not having taken into 

 consideration the fact that, according to the British-Association rules, Linnseus's genera always 

 take precedence of Brisson's. The Spoonbill should therefore stand as Platalea leucorodia, and 

 not Platea leucorodia. 



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