ROSEATE SPOONBILL,* 
143 
bourhood of Natchez, in excellent order; for which 
favour I am indebted to the family of my late benevolent 
and scientific friend, William Dunbar, Esq. of that 
territory. It is now deposited in Mr Peale’s museum. 
This species, however, is rarely seen to the northward 
of the Alatamalia 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 sea shore and 
the mouths of rivers. Captain Henderson says, it is 
frequently seen at Honduras. It wades about in quest 
of shell fish, 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. According to Latham, the young are of 
a blackish chestnut the first year ; of the roseate colour 
of the present the second year f and of a deep scarlet the 
third. Having never been so fortunate as to meet with 
them in their native wilds, I regret my 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 common in Holland.* To atone for this 
deficiency, I have endeavoured faithfully to describe 
this American species. 
This bird measured two feet six inches in length, 
and near four feet in extent ; the bill was six inches 
and a half long from the corner of the mouth, seven 
from its upper base, two inches over at its greatest 
width, and three quarters of an inch where narrowest ; 
of a black colour for half its length, and covered with 
hard scaly protuberances, like the edges of oyster shells ; 
* The European species breeds on trees, by the sea side ; lays 
three or four white eggs, powdered with a few pale red spots, and 
about the size of those of a hen ; are very noisy during breeding 
time ; feed on fish, mussels, &c. which, like the bald eagle, they 
frequently take from other birds, frightening them by clattering 
their bill : they are also said to eat grass, weeds, and roots of reeds : 
they are migratory ; their flesh reported to savour that of a goose ; 
the young are reckoned good food. 
