348 FOREIGN BIRDS. 



While Canary-Birds fluttered the branches among, 

 And now warbled apart, now in concert a song. 

 The Tropic-Bird ( 2S ) swift, too, was seen in mid sky; 

 And that Tyrant, the Shrike, you might also descry. 



seven inches long, and nearly two in breadth towards the point; 

 all round the upper mandible runs a rim which covers the 

 lower one ; the nostrils are small, at the base of the bill ; tongue 

 short, pointed ; feet semi-palmated. The following are the 

 chief: 



Of the Leucorodia, White-Spoon sill, Spoonbill, or Pelican, 

 there are three varieties. The first has the body white; chrn 

 black; hind-head subcrested: the second has the wings varied 

 with black and white; legs yellowish: and the third has the 

 body all white ; legs flesh-colour ; two feet eight inches long;' 

 feeds on fishes, frogs, snakes, and grass; builds in high trees ; 

 eggs three or four, white, with reddish spots ; flesh resembles a 

 goose, especially when young ; inhabits Europe and Asia, and 

 is seen occasionally in this country. 



The Ajaja, or Roseate-Spoonbill, has the body rosy; tail- 

 coverts scarlet ; another variety blood-red; neck white; collar 

 black ; tail-feathers scarlet ; two feet three inches long ; the first 

 variety inhabits Guiana and Brazil ; the last Mexico and Jamaica. 



The Pygmaa, or Dwarf-Spoonbill, has the body above 

 brown, beneath while. 



In the European Spoonbill both mandibles are black, brown, 

 or grey; the beak of the American Spoonbill is of a red colour, 

 resembling its feathers ; all the different species are inhabitants 

 of the sea-coast ; they are sometimes met with in vast flocks. 

 Notwithstanding the brilliant colours of the American species, 

 the spoonbill is generally considered an ugly bird. The Leu- 

 corodia is found in great plenty in Holland. 



( 26 ) Order, Anseres, (Linn.) Tropic-Bird, the Common, 

 the Black- Billed, the Red-Tailed. 



The genus Phaeton, (Linn.) or Tropic-Bird, compre- 

 hends four species only, distinguished by a sharp-edged, straight, 



