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Reich., having the bare space on the face, the beak and the legs black; and P.flavipes, Gould, 

 which has the legs and beak saffron-yellow. The American Spoonbill is easily recognizable by 

 the rosy tint of its plumage, the lower portion of the neck and the larger wing-coverts being rich 

 scarlet ; this richly coloured bird inhabits the Southern United States and South America down 

 to Brazil. I often met with it when collecting in Mexico. 



The Spoonbill frequents marshy localities, more especially in the neighbourhood of the sea- 

 coast, and affects the open marshes in preference to those covered with high reeds or where there 

 are bushes : mud banks and marshy localities where the soil is of clay appear to be preferred by 

 it ; and in its habitat, and indeed at a distance in appearance, it bears some resemblance to the 

 common Stork, and like that bird it may often be seen perched on a tree at a considerable 

 altitude from the ground ; for it usually settles on a dry branch at the very top of the tree. 

 When moving about in search of food it walks leisurely and slowly, and has a peculiarly grave 

 and sedate gait, as if determined to quarter the ground in a thoroughly business-like manner, 

 and not hurry itself unnecessarily. Easily distinguishable from afar, owing to its white plumage 

 and large size, it is very shy, and it is difficult to approach within gunshot-range of it. I have 

 myself only observed our European Spoonbill in a wild state on the Danube, where I never 

 succeeded in shooting one; but I had ample opportunities of observing its American relative, 

 PL ajaja, which I have repeatedly shot, but could only do so by hiding and shooting it as it 

 passed overhead. The flight of the Spoonbill somewhat resembles that of the common Stork ; it 

 carries its neck and bill stretched straight out, as also the legs, and moves its extended wings with 

 easy flaps, occasionally soaring in circles at a considerable altitude. I do not recollect to have 

 heard the note of the Spoonbill ; but it is described by Naumann as deep and Heron-like, and at 

 its nesting-places it is said to be noisy. Like the Stork it makes a clappering noise with its bill, 

 especially when angry ; but it does not make so loud a sound as that species. 



It breeds in Holland ; but I do not find any record of its having of late been found nesting 

 elsewhere in Northern Europe, though in Hungary and South-eastern Europe it breeds nume- 

 rously. It places its nest usually on some lofty tree, if such is to be found in the neighbour- 

 hood of the marshes which it frequents ; but should no trees be within reach, it nests on the 

 low willow-bushes or in the reeds. Like the Herons it usually breeds in company, especially 

 when it nests in trees. The nest itself somewhat resembles that of the Heron, being constructed 

 of dry twigs and flags, lined with dry flags or rushes, and rather shallow, but wide and bulky. 

 Messrs. Dickson and Ross, who met with it breeding near Erzeroom, write (P. Z. S. 1839, p. 134) 

 that "several nests are placed near each other, about the middle of the river. They are made of 

 reeds, bound together by weeds, which are piled up a few inches above the water's edge. Over 

 this foundation dried reeds are placed in various directions to form the body of the nest, which 

 is not lined with any thing, and is just large enough to allow one bird to sit and the other to 

 stand." 



The eggs, from three to four in number, are pure white in colour, when fresh with a faint 

 tinge of blue, and are sparingly spotted and blotched with pale red. The texture of the shell is 

 rough, and looks dull, almost chalky, and the pores are deep and clearly distinguishable. In 

 size, eggs in my collection from Holland and Hungary measure from 2f§ by Iff to 2f § by If -J. 



The food of the Spoonbill consists of small crustaceans, fish, small frogs, and, to some extent, 



4n 



