ROSEATE SPOONBILL. 
143 
fiiVfl of Natchez, in excellent order; for which 
’Hid T indebted to the family of my late benevolent 
friend, William Dunbar, Esq. of that 
^liisj deposited in Mr Peale’ s museum. 
Of P®cies, however, is rarely seen to the northward 
A^^<^^iniaha river; and even along- the peninsula 
scarce bird. In Jamaica, several other of 
India islands, Mexico and Guiana, it is more 
die n confines itself chiefly to the sea shore and 
lfe(|^ “'dds of rivers. Captain Henderson says, it is 
seen at Honduras. It wades about in quest 
iHfj . ‘ dsh, marine insects, small crabs, and fish. In 
^•1 of these, it occasionally swims and dives. 
'P*'® arc few facts on record relative to this very 
^ According to Latham, the young are of 
'jf chestnut the first year ; of the roseate colour 
Present the second year; and of a deep scarlet the 
. Having never been so fortunate as to meet with 
tlif “ their native wilds, I regret my inability to 
farther light on their history and manners, 
dioss ’ H probable, may resem))le, in many respects, 
''I'Ce ^de European species, the white spoonbill 
common in Holland.* To atone for this 
Hij 5*'cy> I have endeavoured faithfully to describe 
j,|^inerican species. 
did h* dird measured two feet six inches in length, 
'>>(1 » dnir feet in extent ; the bill was six inches 
doft. 
. f K..V/ MtS cSl.V AiAI.>llCO 
.half long from the corner of the mouth, seven 
Its 
Upper base, two inches over at its greatest 
aud three ijuarters of an inch where narrowest ; 
colour for half its length, and covered n ith 
®aly protuberances, like the edges of oyster shells ; 
spefiies Tireeds on trees, by the sea side ; hays 
Sut |)i)wdered avith a fcav pale red spots, and 
f of those ot a heu ; arc very noisy during breeding 
mussels, &c. which, like the bald eagle, they 
from other birds, frighteuiug them l>y clattering 
ary . ^^=^0 said to eat grass, weeds, and roots of reeds : 
; their flesh reported to savour that of a goose : 
are reckoned good food. 
