352 



GRALLATOEES, OE WADING BIEDS. 



The iDi'incipal species of this family are— the Spoonbill {Platalea), 

 Stork {Ciconia), Jabiru {Mycteria, Linn.), Ombrette, Bec-oiivert, 

 Drome, the BoatbiUs {Cancroma), Heron {Ardea), Crane {Grus), 

 Agami and Caurale, and the Cariama {Palamedea cristata). 



The Spoonbill is remarkable for the singular form of its bill, 

 which is about four times the length of the head, straight, and 



Fig. l:J6. — Common White SiiooiiLiill [Piatalea Imccrrodw, Linn.). 



flexible ; the upper mandible, about an inch and a quarter broad at 

 the base, gradually narrows to three-quarters, and again increases 

 to two inches at the point, causing a resemblance to a sjDoon, from 

 which it takes its name. It uses this bill for dipping into the mud 

 and water, whence it extracts worms and small fish, on which it 

 principally feeds. It also eats water-insects, which it catches bv 

 placing its bill half open on the surface of the water, permitting 

 them thus to float on to the lower mandible. It lives in small 

 companies, and frequents places near the sea-shore. It is easily 

 tamed. 



There are two species of them : the White Spoonbill, which has 

 a tuft on the back of its node, and is found in most parts of 

 Europe — it is, however, seldoui met with in France, and then only 

 in the south ; and the Rose-coloured Spoonbill, a native of Soutli 



