SPOONBILL. 



PLATA LEA LEUCORODIA, Linn. 



Platalea leucorodia, Linn. S. N. i. p. 231 (1766) ; Macg. iv. 



p. 503 j Hewitson, ii. p. 320 ; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 237. 

 Platalea leucerodius, Naum. ix. p. 312. 

 Platea leucorodia, Dresser, vi. p. 319. 



Spatule blanche, French ; Lcffler, Loffel-Reiher, German ; 

 Espdtula, Paleton, Cuchareta, Spanish. 



This is one of the many species that formerly bred 

 in various parts of our country, but, owing to drainage, 

 cultivation, and the gun, is now only known in England 

 as an accidental and irregular visitor ; a few still visit 

 our shores almost every year, and I regret to say that 

 the records of their appearance are generally accom- 

 panied by details of the slaughter of one or more of 

 these harmless and very ornamental birds. 



The Spoonbill still nests annually in Holland, but is 

 steadily decreasing in numbers in that country, owing to 

 the causes above mentioned : an interesting account of 

 the birds and one of their breeding-localities in the 

 neighbourhood of Amsterdam will be fuund at p. 240 

 of the 4th edition of Yarrell's ' British Birds,' and 

 Mr. P. L. Sclater and Mr. Seebohm have also recorded 

 their experiences on the same subject in the ' Ibis ' and 

 the ' Zoologist.' The nests are generally built on the 



