ground on mud amongst reeds or high sedge, sometimes 

 many together, though I am acquainted with more than 

 one instance of a pair of these birds nesting alone apart 

 from others of their species, and there are many records 

 of their nesting in high trees. The eggs are white, 

 with rust-coloured spots, and generally four in number. 



I have met with the Spoonbill very frequently in 

 Andalucia during the summer, and a flock of eighteen 

 frequented the harbour of Santander in May 1876. I 

 also found one near Vigo in the winter of 1878-79, but 

 have reason to believe that it was a wounded bird ; at 

 all events the Spoonbill is a summer visitor to those 

 parts of Europe that it frequents. Away from its 

 breeding-haunts our bird is generally wary, and from 

 the character of its feeding-grounds (open expanses of 

 bare mud) difficult of approach. The snowy white of 

 the plumage of the adults and the curious manner in 

 which the bird feeds, advancing in line and sifting the 

 soft mud between the mandibles with a sort of swinging 

 motion that reminds one of mowers in a meadow, can- 

 not fail to attract attention. 



In captivity the Spoonbill becomes exceedingly tame, 

 and is a very promiscuous feeder, but not a very hardy 

 bird ; any lengthened exposure to cold winds is very 

 detrimental, and hard ground soon produces swellings in 

 the feet, from which this species seldom recovers. A 

 good many Spoonbills, old and young, are sent to 

 Leadenhall Market from Holland every summer. 



This bird is a fairly good swimmer, but does not 

 appear to be so much at its ease in the water as the 

 Common Heron and some of the Cranes. 



