The name of the spoonbills explains itself, and it is hardly necessary to refer to the accompanying illustration, for no one who ever saw any of these large and beautiful birds with the singular beak mistook it for anything else. The Old World species(Platalea) are all nearly pure white, while the American spoonbill (Ajaja ajaja) is light rose-coIorec], with brilliant carmine wing-coverts. In their general habits, as in their structure, the spoonbiIls are only modified ibises. Like these they also fly with outstretched necks, perch on trees, and also generally breed in trees. Messrs. Sclater and Forbes have demonstrated that, in certain localities at least, the spoonbill of Europe, P. leucorodia, breeds on the ground among the reed-beds. In 1877 they visited a breeding colony near Amsterdam, in Holland, from the interesting account of which we select the following:-
"Having inspected the cormorants' breeding-place, we proceeded about fifty yards further through the reed-beds, over a still more treacherous swamp, to the breeding place of the spoonbills. The nests of these birds were not situated so near together as those of the cormorants, but scattered about two or three yards from each other, with thin patches of reeds growing between them. There was, however, a clear open space in the neighborhood, formed of broken-down reeds, in which the birds were said to congregate. The spoonbill's nest, in the Horster Meer at least, is a mere flattened surface of broken reed, not elevated more than two or three inches above the general level of the swamp; and no other substance but reed appears to be used in its construction. What the proper complement of eggs would be if the birds were left undisturbed we cannot say, for, as in the case of the cormorants, the nests are robbed systematically twice a week, until the period when it is known by experience that they cannot produce any more eggs. Then at last the birds are allowed to sit undisturbed. At the time of our visit the season for collecting eggs was just past; but we helped ourselves to eight fresh eggs, from different nests, laid since the last collection had been made. During all the time that we were in the reed-beds, 'the cormorants and spoonbills were floating about over our heads, fully aware that there was an enemy in the camp."
The characters of the super-family ARDEOIDAE having already been stated to be the reverse of those given for the Ibidoideee, we may at once proceed to treat of the separate families.
