184 ARDEID.E. 



amounting to an inch at least. The whole are without an 

 occipital crest or dorsal plumes, and it may be a question 

 whether those specimens having bills so much longer than the 

 others may not be old birds in winter plumage. There is no 

 yellow tint in any portion of the bills of any of the specimens ; 

 the colour being dark livid with a shade of flesh-colour." 



The distribution of this bird extends over most parts of 

 Europe as far north as Norway in the course of its summer 

 migration. In winter it confines itself to the milder parts, 

 such as Greece and Turkey. In Asia it is found; also 

 in Africa from north to south. The country most frequented 

 during the summer months is Holland, where the Spoonbill 

 arrives in April, and from whence it departs in August, 

 to avoid being overtaken by ungenial gales. 



The localities most frequented by this species are marshes 

 not far distant from the sea-shore, such as the mouths of the 

 rivers Maas and Rhine, in Holland, where the ground is 

 intersected in all directions by streams, pools, bogs, and 

 swamps. The Spoonbill does not hide among the rushes, but 

 prefers open banks, where a few large aquatic plants afford it 

 shelter, in case of need, from wind and weather. In such 

 places the present species may be seen at a distance walking 

 about, or standing on the water's edge. Its pure white 

 plumage gives the observer a good opportunity of watching its 

 movements, which are graceful and elegant : whether the bird 

 stands or walks about, it generally carries its slender neck in 

 the form of the letter S ; and the flowing feathers of the head 

 in the adult bird enhance its beauty greatly when they are in 

 any degree erected. 



When the Spoonbill takes wing it holds its neck and beak 

 in a straight line, and its legs the same in an opposite direc- 

 tion : its wings are spread out at full length, and moved 

 in regular succession, but not quickly ; it consequently seems 

 as if the bird skims along. At times it towers up to a great 



