17'2 NATURALIST'S CABINET*. 



Splendid plumage Deformed figure. 



rose-colour, or a delightful crimsons Beauty of 

 plumage seems, to be the prerogative of all the 

 birds of that continent; and we here see the 

 most splendid tints bestowed on a bird, whose 

 figure is sufficient to destroy the effects of its co- 

 louring; for its bill is so oddly fashioned, and its 

 eyes so stupidly staring, that its fine feathers only 

 tend to add splendor to deformity. The bill, 

 which in this bird is so very particular, is about 

 seven inches long, running out broad at the 

 end, as its name justly serves to denote; it is of 

 a red colour, like the rest of the body. All round 

 the upper chap there runs a kind of rim, with 

 which it covers that beneath ; and as for the rest, 

 its cheeks and its throat, are without feathers, 

 and covered with a black skin. 



This bird seems to lead a life entirely like that 

 of the crane kind ; its toes are divided, and it 

 feeds among waters upon frogs, toads, and ser- 

 pents ; of which, particularly at the Cape of 

 Good Hope, they destroy great numbers. The 

 inhabitants of that country hold them in as much 

 esteem as the ancient Egyptians did their bird 

 ibis : it runs tamely about their houses; and they 

 are content with its society, as an useful though 

 an homely companion. They are never killed; 

 and indeed they are good for nothing when they 

 are dead, for the flesh is unfit to be eaten. 



These birds breed in Europe, in company with 

 the heron, in high trees ; and in a nest formed 

 of the same materials. They lay from three to 



