ROSEATE SPOONBILL. 77 



angle very long, narrow, rounded, the crura narrow, and gradually flattened, 

 the extremity expanded into a flattened disk as in the upper. The 

 mandibles are covered with soft skin, which for half their length is rough 

 with roundish plates having their anterior margin somewhat prominent. 



Head of moderate size, flattened above. Neck long and slender. Body 

 compact, ovate. Legs long and rather slender; tibia bare in its lower half, 

 and reticulate; tarsus rather long, stout, roundish, covered all round with 

 reticulated subhexagonal scales; toes rather long, moderately stout, covered 

 above with numerous scutella, but at the base reticulated; first more slender, 

 articulated on the same plane; second considerably shorter than third, which 

 is in the same proportion exceeded by the fourth. Claws moderate, arched, 

 compressed, laterally grooved, rather obtuse. 



The head, gular sac, and a small part of the neck, destitute of feathers. 

 Those on the neck linear or lanceolate, small, with disunited barbs; a tuft on 

 the lower and fore part of the neck recurved and silky. The feathers on 

 the other parts are of moderate length, ovate, rather compact above, blended 

 beneath. Wings long and very broad; primaries firm, broad, tapering, but 

 rounded, the second longest, the third next, the first a quarter of an inch 

 shorter; secondaries broad and broadly rounded. Tail short, even, of twelve 

 rather broad, abruptly rounded feathers. ' 



Bill yellowish-grey at the base, mottled with brownish-black, in the rest 

 of its extent pale greenish-blue, light on the margins; base of margin of 

 lower mandible greenish-yellow. Iris bright carmine. Feet pale lake; 

 claws brownish-black. Head yellowish-green; space around the eye and 

 the gular sac orpiment orange; a band of black from the lower mandible to 

 the occiput. Feathers of the neck white. Back and wings of a beautiful 

 delicate rose colour; the lower parts of a deeper tint; the tuft of recurved 

 feathers on the fore-neck, a broad band across the wing along the cubitus, 

 and the upper and lower tail-coverts, of a rich and pure carmine%ith sirky 

 lustre. The shafts of all the quills and scapulars are light carmine. On 

 each side of the lower part of the neck and fore part of the body a patch, of 

 pale ochre. Tail feathers ochre-yellow, but at the base pale roseate, with 

 the shafts carmine. 



Length to end of tail 30f- inches, to end of wings 29§, to-end of claws 36; 

 extent of wings 53; bill 7; breadth of gape If, depth of pouch 2; breadth of 

 bill at the base If; at the end 2^; bare part of tibia 3; tarsus 4; hind toe 

 and claw l|f; second toe and claw 2^%; middle toe and claw 3-^; outer toe 

 and claw 3^; wing from flexure 15^; tail 4|. Weight 4 lbs. 2 oz. 



The female is smaller, but resembles the male. 



Length to end of tail 28 inches, to end of wings 2S, to end of claws 35|; 

 extent of wings 48. Weight 3 lbs. 



