SPOONBILL. 7 



in weight equal to a sare* and a quarter, about two pounds and 

 and a half; the length four times that of the drawing; and as the 

 latter is eighteen inches long, the bird itself would measure six feet. 

 It is said also to be found in Hindustan. Should no mistake have 

 occurred in respect to the size of the bird, we may fairly rank it as 

 distinct, both from the Roseate, and Scarlet Species. 



5 —DWARF SPOONBILL. 



Platalea pygmea, Ind. Orn.W. 669. Lin. i. 231. Mus. Ad. ii. p. 26. Gm. Lin. i. 615. 



Becasseau, Tern. Man. Ed. ii. Anal. p. civ. 



Dwarf Spoonbill, Gen. Syn. v. p. 17. Bancr. Guian. 171. 



SIZE of a Sparrow. Bill black, longer than the head, and flat 

 at the end, not of rounded form, as in the others, but spread out 

 almost at right angles, so as to be nearly of a rhomboidal form ; the 

 angles and tip of the upper mandible white ; tongue smooth ; the 

 body brown above, and white beneath ; the quills have white shafts; 

 the tail rounded in shape, short, and brownish white; the feet with 

 four toes, and cloven ; claws pointed. Bancroft's description varies 

 somewhat. He says, that the bill is flattish, dilated, orbiculated, 

 and flat at the point, and that the toes are palmated. 



Inhabits Surinam and Guiana. It is added, in the Jllns. Adol. 

 that the head is slightly crested, and the tongue short and obtuse. 

 We have never met with this species in any collection, nor seen a 

 drawing of it. M. Temminck places it in his Tringa Genus. 



* Saar or Seer. It is probable that this either varies in different parts of India, or is 

 not well understood ; as all authors do not agree concerning the weight of it. Some say it 

 is six-tenths of a pound ; others near one pound weight ; and lastly, that it equals two 

 pounds, and which we believe to be the generally received opinion. 



