244 NATURAL HISTORY 
of the torrid zone, and is found in Jamaica, and other 
islands of America. It feeds, like the turkey, on grain 
insects, and the like. 
The knob over the bill is of a fine blue colour, as is 
also the basis of the upper mandible of the bill; the re- 
mainder of the bill is red: the eyes have reddish brown 
irides. The whole bird is of a shining blackish colour, 
reflecting purple glosses; except the lower part of the 
belly, the covert feathers, under the tail, and the tips of 
the tail feathers, which are white. The legs and feet 
are covered with a scaly skin, of a bright flesh-colour. 
Spoonbill. ( Platalea . PI. 41.) The spoonbill, or 
shoveller, is about the size of the crane, but not quite 
so tall. The common colour of those of Europe is a 
dirty white, but in America they are seen of a beautiful 
rose colour or a delightful crimson. Beauty of plumage 
seems to be the prerogative of all the birds of that con- 
tinent; and we here see the most splendid tints bestowed 
on an animal whose figure is sufficient to destroy the 
effects of its colouring; for its bill is so oddly fashioned, 
and its eye so stupidly staring, that its plumage only 
tends to add splendor to deformity. 
The spoonbill chiefly subsists on frogs, toads, and 
serpents, of which it destroys great numbers; and it is 
for that reason highly esteemed by the inhabitants of the 
Cape of Good Hope. The female lays from three to 
five eggs, and in Europe, its nest is usually found in high 
trees, near that of the heron, and constructed of the same 
materials. The inhabitants who claim the trees they 
build in, furnish themselves with along pole hooked at 
the end, with which they shake out the young ones; but 
sometimes the nest and all tumble down together. 
On the hind part of the head of this bird is a beautiful 
white crest, reclining backward; while the legs and 
thighs are jet black: but the wisdom of Providence is 
conspicuous in the conformation of the bill, which seems 
entirely adapted to the habits and manner of feeding of 
these birds; the frog and the lizard, which constitute the 
principal food of the spoonbill; do often escape the thin 
and narrow beak of the heron and others, but here the 
