PL AT ALE A AJAJA. 
403 
breed in Florida. Specimens of this species have been taken along the Eastern Section of 
the United States, as far north as New Hampshire, two being taken at Orleans, Massachu¬ 
setts, during the first week in May, 1878, one of which is in the collection of the Bangs 
Brothers. These, and all others which I have examined, were evidently stragglers from 
the Old World or from South America, but whether the Florida birds which I found, be¬ 
longed to this class, remains to be proved. I am under the impression, however, that I 
have somewhere seen a specimen, taken in Florida, which did not resemble the Texan form. 
GENUS II. PLATALEA. THE SPOONBILLS. 
Gen. Ch. Bill, but slightly curved, more than twice as long as head, much flattened, and widely expanded at the round¬ 
ed tip. Slerno-trachealis, absent. Webs between toes, large . 
Members of this genus are remarkable for the singularly flattened bill. The trachea is also peculiar, being elevated, 
and the bronchial tubes are greatly elongated. The intestines are small and long. Sexes, similar. There is but one spe¬ 
cies within oar limits. 
PLATALEA AJAJA. 
Roseate Spoonbill. 
Platalea ajaja Linn., Syst. Nat., I; 1766, 231. 
DESCRIPTION. 
£p. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. Tongue, very short, only - 25 long, triangular in form, with the tip pointed. 
Sternum, stout. Outer marginal indentations, equal in depth to inner. 
Color. Adult. Rosy-red throughout, brightest beneath, and much lighter on neck. Tuft of recurved feathers on 
neck, band on wing, and upper and lower tail coverts, rich carmine. Patch on side of neck, pale orange. Tail, brownish- 
orange, rosy at base. Head, naked, green in color, with space around eye and gular sac, bright orange, while a line of 
black extends from bill to occiput. Bill, bluish, mottled with dusky at base. Feet, pinkish. Iris, deep carmine. 
Young. Similar to the adult, but much paler, and lack the bright markings-, while the tail is rosy and the primaries 
are tipped with dusky. Iris and feet, brown. Bill, yellowish, brown at base. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Known from all others by the spoon-like bill, and rosy colors as described. Distributed, as a constant resident, in Flor¬ 
ida. Rare in summer, as far north as the Carolinas, 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 29 - 35; stretch, 51*50; wing, MAO; tail, 4'75; bill, 6'35; tar¬ 
sus, 3‘50. Longest specimen, 30*75; greatest extent of wing, 53*00; longestwing, 15*00; tail, 5 00; bill, 7*00; tarsus, 4*00. 
Shortest specimen, 28'00; smallest extent of wing, 48‘00; shortest wing, 14-00; tail, 4*50; bill, 5*75; tarsus, 3*00. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed in trees, composed of sticks loosely arranged. Eggs, two or three in number, oval in form, ashy-white 
in color, spotted and blotched, rather sparcely, with pale reddish-brown. Dimensions from 1*70 x 2*50 to 1*75x2*60. 
HABITS. 
When I first visited Florida, I was quite surprised to hear the inhabitants speak of the 
Pink Curlews as being very common, and I naturally supposed that the Scarlet Ibis was 
the species they had in mind; but upon further inquiries, I found that this appellation 
was applied to the Roseate Spoonbills, and learned that the Scarlet Ibis was entirely un¬ 
known in the State. Years ago, the Roseate Spoonbills were found throughout Florida, 
but as their feathers have long been valuable for ornaments, the birds have been extermi¬ 
nated or driven away from the Northern, Eastern, and Middle Sections, and now are found 
in numbers, only on the Western coast, even being rare on the Keys. The Spoonbills are 
not unlike the White Ibis in general habits, but differ from this species in breeding in the 
interior. They may be seen feeding on the muddy flats of the coast, in spring and winter, 
but late in summer and in autumn, they wander more, at which time they are found about 
the lakes in the interior of the State. These handsome birds are exceedingly graceful in 
