Cuass Il. WHITE SPOONBILL. 
almost imperceptible, which with the skin on that 
part, are of a very bright orange-color ; irides 
of the eyes a bright flame-color, very lively and 
vivid; the whole bill (except the above spot) of 
a fine shining black; its upper surface elegantly 
waved with dotted protuberances; a depressed 
line extending from the nostrils (which are three- 
eighths of an inch long, and situate half an inch 
below the upper part of the bill) is continued 
round it about one eighth of an inch from its 
edge; its substance has something of the ap- 
pearance of whale bone, thin, light, and elastic. 
Inside of the mouth a dark ash-color, almost 
black; the tongue (remarkably singular) being 
very short, heart shaped, and when drawn back, 
serving as a valve to close the entrance of the 
throat, which it seems to do effectually ; when 
pulled forward has the appearance of a triangu- 
lar button ; the ears, or auditory apertures, large, 
and placed an inch behind the angles of the 
mouth. Plumage of the whole body, wings, 
and tail white; on the back part of the head a 
beautiful crest of white feathers, hanging pen- 
dent behind the neck; their length about five 
inches ; which, in the living suet gives it a 
very beautiful appearance. 
Weight of the fowl, three days after killed, 
was three pounds and a half. 
