i 4 SPOON-BILL. 



the extremity ; it is in colour various, in fome birds black, in 

 others brown, and is alfo feen fpotted ; from the bafe to two- 

 thirds of its length it is croffed with feveral indentations, the 

 rifing parts of which are dark-coloured : the tongue fhort, and 

 heart-fhaped : irides grey : the lore, round the eyes, and the 

 throat, the lkin is bare and black j that of the laft very dilata- 

 ble * : the whole plumage is white, though in fome fpecimens 

 the quills are tipped with black : the legs are black, or of a 

 greyifh brown colour: between the toes a membrane, connected 

 to the outer one as far as the fecond, and to the inner as far as 

 the firft joint. 



This bird is found in various parts of the old continent, and 

 from the Ferro IJles f, near Iceland, to the Cape of Good Hope J : 

 it frequents the neighbourhood of the fea, and has been met 

 with on the coafts of France || ; at Sevenhuys, near Ley den, once 

 in great plenty, annually breeding in a wood there §. The neft 

 is placed on high trees near the fea-fide. The female lays three 

 or four white eggs, powdered with a few pale red fpots, and of 

 the fize of thofe of an Hen. They are very noify during breed- 

 ing-time, like our Rooks; are feldom found high up the rivers* 

 chiefly frequenting the mouths of them. Their food is fijh, 

 which they are faid not unfrequently to take from other birds **, 

 in the manner of the Bali Eagle ; alfo mufcles, and other Jhell 

 fijh, being found in greateft numbers where thefe are plenty ; and 

 will alfo devour frogs and fnakes, and even grafs and weeds. 



* Dectmv* Ruff. i. p. 164.. f Brutinich- % Kolben, 



\ This circumftance is mentioned as rare by Salerne, Orn. p. 317. 

 § Ray, Willugbby.— -This wood is now dcitroyed. Br, Zool. 

 *• Worm. Muf. 310, 



n -which- 



