e 
Ors Saha sant 
4 
Genus Al. PL ATRLTA 
Tue S$POONBILL: 
*» 
The bill is long, broad, flat, and thin; the end widene 
ing into a roundifh form, a little like a fpoon. — 
The noftrils are fmall, and placed near the bafe of the _ 
bill. os 
The tongue is fmall and pointed. 
The feet have four toes, and are femi palmated ; that is, 
the webs come half way to the ends of the toes. 
HE beak of the Spoonbill is very remark- 
__ able in its form ; it is flat the whole length, 
but widens towards the end like a {poon, and 
there it is three times wider than in the other part. 
It is remarkable too for its fubftance, for it is not 
 Kard, but flexible, and bends eafily like whalebone. 
_ The plumage or feathers of the Spoonbill are 
white, in fome the quills are tipped with black. 
The Spoonbill is near the fize of the Heron; 
but.its legs are not fo long, and its neck is fhorter. : 
The feathers on the neck are fhort, thofe on the | 
head are long, and form a creft, which falls back- 
ER Se Cag pone ee ET . 
open tes 
wards. ‘The feet, and the naked part of the legs, 
"are covered with a black, hard, and fealy fkin. 
As | Spoon- 
