THE TOUCAN — THE SPOON-BILL. 347 



The Eider-Duck came with some other sea-fowl ; 

 In much state appear'd, also, the Great-Eagle-Owl. 

 The Coquimbo-Owl, also, the Burrowing, too, 



came ; 

 Both by singular habits are known unto fame.* 

 The Rosy rob'd Spoonbill, ( 2S the Crimson rob'd too, 

 In g-audiness flaunted, not pleasing to view; 



neck, orange; legs and claws lead colour; nineteen inches long; 

 feeds upon pepper, as do several other species of the genus » 

 inhabits South America ; the natives of Cayenne glue the skin 

 and feathers of the neck of this bird upon their cheeks by way 

 of ornament. 



The Viridis, Green-Toucan, or Grigi, is green ; belly yel- 

 low ; rump red; fourteen inches long; inhabits and feeds like 

 the last; bill not so enormous as some of the other species, 

 being only about four inches and a half in length. 



The Toucan ets are, of course, the smaller species of Toucans; 

 they are mentioned by Waterton, but not specifically de- 

 scribed by him: it is much to be regretted that this gentleman 

 has not been more scientifically descriptive of the many birds 

 which he has mentioned in his Wanderings in South America. 



A Toucan is to be seen alive and in remarkable activity at 

 the Zoological Society in Bruton-street. 



( 2S ) Order, Grall^e, (Linn.) Spoon-eill, the White, the 

 Roseate, the Dwarf. 

 The genus Platalea, (Linn.) or Spoonbill, consists of five 

 species, one of which, the Leucorodia, is found occasionally in 

 this country. The distinguishing characteristics of this tribe is 

 its singular bill, having, as its name imports, the shape of a 

 spoon; its singularity does not, however, consist merely in its 

 shape, but also in its structure, for it is not hard like the beaks 

 of other birds, but soft and flexible like leather ; it is commonly 



* For an account of the Owls, see note (41,) part I. 



