DIY. II. AVES AQUATICjE. WATER BIRDS. 
ORDER VII. GRALLiE. WADERS. 
Genus LXIV. PLATALEA. SPOONBILL. 
Species. P. AJAJA, 
ROSEATE SPOONBILL. 
[Plate LXIII. Fig. 1.] 
Arct. Zool. No. 338. — Latii. Syn. in., p. 16, No. 2. — La Spaiule couleur de Rose, 
Briss. Orn. v., p. 356, 2, pi. 30.— PL Enl. p. 116.— Burr, vn., 456. 
This stately and elegant bird inhabits the seashores of America, from 
Brazil to Georgia. It also appears to wander up the Mississippi some- 
times in summer, the specimen from which the figure in the plate was 
drawn having been sent me from the neighborhood of Natchez, in ex- 
cellent order ; for which favor I am indebted to the family of my late 
benevolent and scientific friend, William Dunbar, Esq., of that territory. 
This species, however, is rarely seen to the northward of the Alata- 
maha river ; and even along the Peninsula of Florida is a scarce bird. 
In Jamaica, several other of the West India Islands, Mexico, and 
Guiana, it is more common, but confines itself chiefly to the seashore, 
and the mouths of rivers. Captain Henderson says, it is frequently 
seen at Honduras. It wades about in quest of shell-fisb, marine insects, 
small crabs and fish. In pursuit of these, it occasionally swims and 
dives. 
There are few facts on record relative to this very singular bird. It 
is said that the young are of a blackish chestnut the first year ; of the 
roseate color of the present the second year ; and of a deep scarlet the 
third.* 
Having never been so fortunate as to meet with them in their native 
wilds, I regret my present inability to throw any farther light on their 
history and manners. These, it is probable, may resemble, in many 
respects, those of the European species, the White Spoonbill, once so 
Vol. II.— 19 
Latham. 
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