the extremity; it is in colour various, in fome birds black, in
others brown, and is alfo feen fpotted j from the bafe to two-
thirds of its length it is crofted with feveral indentations, the
riling parts of which are dark-coloured : the tongue Ihort, and
heart-lhaped : irides grey: the lore, round the eyes, and the
throat, the lkin is bare and black j that of the laft very dilatable
* : the whole plumage is white, though in fome fpecimens
the quills are tipped with black : the legs are black, or of a
greyifh brown colour: between the toes a membrane, connefted
to the outer one as far as the fecond, and to the inner as far as
the firft joint.
This bird is found in various parts of the old continent, and
from the Ferro Ißes f , near Iceland, to the Cape of Good Hope J :
it frequents the neighbourhood of the fea, and has been met
with on the coafts of France | ; at Sevenhuys, near Leyden, once
in great plenty, annually breeding in a wood there §. The nelt
is placed on high trees near the fea-lide. The female lays three
or four white eggs, powdered with a few pale red fpots, and of
the fize of thofe of an Hen. They are very noify during breeding
time, like our Rooks; are feldom found high up the rivers,
chiefly frequenting the mouths of them. Their food is fijhy
which they are faid not unfrequently. to take from other birds **,
in the manner of the Bald Eagle ; alfo mufcleSy and other Jhell
fifh, being found in greateft numbers where thefe are plenty; and
will alfo devour frogs and fnakes, and even grafs and weeds,
* Dicouv. Ruß. i. p. 164. t Brumieb• t Kolben.
y This circumftance is mentioned as rare by Saltrne, Orn. p. 317.
§ Ray, Willughby.— This wood is now deilroyed. Br, Ztol.
** Worm. Muß 310.
2 which,
S P O O N - B I L L .
which grow in the water, as well as the roots of reeds *. Are
migratory, retiring to the warmer parts as the winter approaches :
rarely feen in England f . Their flelh is faid to have the flavour
o f a Goo/e, and is eaten by fome, and the young birds have
been thought good food J. By many authors they are called
Pelicans.
La Spatule blanche de l’Ifle de Luçon, Son. Voy. p. 89. t. 51.
Ç I Z E of the rofeate fpecies. Bill reddilh brown : general colour
of the plumage white j the feathers of the wings part
black, part white : legs reddifli yellow.
Inhabits the Philippine IJlands.
!»
V ar. a .
D e sc r ip t ion«
P lace.
La Spatule huppeede 1’Ifle deLu^on, Son. Voy* p. 90. t. 52. V ar 15
C I Z E of the laft, but differs in being entirely white, the quills Descriptiok.
not excepted : it is alfo furnilhed with a long creft, compofed
of feathers whofe webs are very loofe, and feparated from one
another: the bill is rufous grey, with red edges : legs of a dull
pale red.
Found with the laft. Peace.
* Salerno.
+ A flock of them migrated into the marflies, near Tirmouth, in Norfolk,
April 1774- Br. Zool.
t Before they can fly j for Willugbly talks of their being lhaken out of the
neft with a crook fattened to the end of a pole. See Orn. p. Bi<y.
P
FlataîeÂ