ground on mud amongst reeds or high sedge, sometimes
many together, though I am acquainted with more than
one instance of a pair of these birds nesting alone apart
from others of their species, and there are many records
of their nesting in high trees. The eggs are white,
with rust-coloured spots, and generally four in number.
I have met with the Spoonbill very frequently in
Andalucia during the summer, and a flock of eighteen
frequented the harbour of Santander in May 1876. I
also found one near Vigo in the winter of 1878-79, but
have reason to believe that it was a wounded bird; at
all events the Spoonbill is a summer visitor to those
parts of Europe that it frequents. Away from its
breeding-haunts our bird is generally wary, and from
the character of its feeding-grounds (open expanses of
bare mud) difficult of approach. The snowy white of
the plumage of the adults and the curious manner in
which the bird feeds, advancing in line and sifting the
soft mud between the mandibles with a sort of swinging
motion that reminds one of mowers in a meadow, cannot
fail to attract attention.
In captivity the Spoonbill becomes exceedingly tame,
and is a very promiscuous feeder, but not a very hardy
bird; any lengthened exposure to cold winds is very
detrimental, and hard ground soon produces swellings in
the feet, from which this species seldom recovers. A
good many Spoonbills, old and young, are sent to
Leadenhall Market from Holland every summer.
This bird is a fairly good swimmer, but does not
appear to be so much at its ease in the water as the
Common Heron and some of the Cranes;