According to circumstances, they build their nests either in high trees, in bushes, or among rushes. Their moult is simple and ordinary; but the young bird does not assume the confirmed livery of the adult till the third year.

The bill is gradually developed, and appears covered with a membrane. The crest makes its appearance at the end of the second year. The differences between the sexes are only slightly marked.

These birds are distributed through Europe generally. Holland appears to be a principal place for their summer meetings. Temminck states that the spoonbill has two periods of passage along the maritime coasts, and that it journeys with the storks. As winter approaches, it migrates to more southern regions till the milder weather recalls it.

Mr. Bennett tells us that in winter it takes up its quarters in various parts of Africa, extending southwards even to the Cape of Good Hope. It is rarely met with in inland countries, except on the banks of the larger rivers; but it is by no means uncommon, during the season, on the coasts of the great extent of country which it embraces in its visits.

In England it only appears occasionally. Pennant mentions a large flight which arrived in the marshes near Yarmouth in April, 1774. Colonel Montagu describes it as sometimes seen during the winter on the coast of South Devon, and mentions his receiving two specimens from that part of the country, one in November, 1804, and the other in 1807. Mr. Yarrell records two specimens which were shot in Lincolnshire in 1826.

The flesh of the spoonbill, when well fed and fat, is said to resemble in flavour that of a goose. Another genus* has the bill strong, large, conical towards the point, and the upper mandible bent at a sudden angle; the lower mandible the larger, and each having serrated edges; the tarsi very long.

THE RED FLAMINGO.†

THE remarkable figure and proportions of this bird, as apparent in our engraving, at once indicate its position among the wading birds. The neck is slender and of great length, equalling commonly that of the feet. With a body less than that of a common goose, slender and tapering, it is thus adapted to wade through shallows and morasses with great security. But as the Flamingo frequents the sea-coast and the adjacent marshes, it has also the power of swimming, and its toes are partially webbed; and thus it may fearlessly venture even beyond its depth, nor apprehend being carried away by the retiring tide.

Its food consists of small fish, shells, and water insects, for the capture of which its beak is most singularly constructed; in length it is nearly five inches; the upper mandible is bent downwards in the middle, at an acute angle, as if broken, the space from the angle to the point being a broad flat plate, of a somewhat oval figure; the lower mandible, which is the larger, is so adjusted as to fit the angle with its edges, its under surface being gently arched downwards. The edges of both mandibles are furnished with a row of serrations, or tooth-like eminences, those of the upper being the larger.

The use of the mandibles is, like a strainer, allowing the water to pass through, but retaining any small body, as an insect or a fish. In searching for food among the mud, at the bottom of waters, the upper and not the under mandible is applied to the ground; the flat portion of its surface being well adapted for pressing close down on the soft bed of the marsh or creek. Hence, in that situation, the inferior mandible is placed uppermost, and by its motion works the disturbed and turbid water through the two, as is seen in ducks and other aquatic birds. The tongue is large and fleshy, and the sense of taste is probably acute.

The height of the flamingo, in its natural attitude, is about four feet. The first year, its livery is of a grayish clouded white; the second, the white is purer, but the wings are tinted with a beautiful rose-colour; in the third year it attains its full plumage. Its colour is then extremely rich and brilliant, being of a fine deep scarlet on the back, and roseate on the wings, the quill-feathers of the wings being jet black. The hues of the bird become more intense during succeeding years. A flock of these tall and splendid birds, moving about on the sea-beach, with their plumage reflecting the glowing rays of a tropical sun, is a spectacle never to be forgotten.

• Phoenicopterus.

Phoenicopterus ruber: Linnæus.

This bird, known in Europe, has been seen everywhere on the African coast, and the adjacent islands, quite to the Cape of Good Hope. Le Vaillant found thousands of them on the river KleinBrak, where the water is brackish, owing to the flowing of the tide. It has been occasionally observed on the coasts of Spain, of Italy, and on those of France, which lie on the Mediterranean Sea. It is rare and accidental in the neighbourhood of Rome; and it has been noticed in various parts of the East. There is also an American species of flamingo.*

THE JABIRU.

THE Jabiru is partial to salt-water creeks and lagoons. The beak is large, broad, conical, and pointed the lower mandible is slightly curved upwards; its colour is black. The head is large, and neck thick; both the head and neck are of a rich, deep glossy-green, changing, when it reaches the occiput, into beautiful iridescent tints of violet and purple, which, when viewed under a bright sunshine, or in a changing light, gleam with a metallic effulgence equal to that seen in the peacock. Dr. G. Bennett,+ to whom we are indebted for this account, describes a jabiru he had at Sydney. It permitted any one to approach it, only moving away timidly when an attempt was made to touch it. It sometimes stood quite erect, or on one leg, with the other thrown out; or rested upon the tarsi, like the emeu and mooruk, and again on one leg, with the bill inclined upon the breast. It greedily devoured 14 lb. of beef cut in small pieces, on its arrival, but it fed also on fish and reptiles. It picked up the smallest object with great readiness, though its mandibles appear unwieldy, and clattered them together with a loud noise when catching flies. When a tub of water was placed near it, it put one leg in it; and after drinking, filled its mouth with water, and threw it out again, as if rinsing the mandibles. The eyes were very large, and remarkably brilliant, and yet imparted great docility of expression, making it appear —what it was—an amiable bird, familiar with all around it, and courting admiration, but on the watch for any act of aggression. When suddenly startled, it would flap its long and powerful wings, as if preparing for flight, for which its structure seemed well adapted, the whole bulk of the body being so light.

This bird was first placed in a yard where some poultry were kept; he stared at the fowls, and they ran away on his approach, although he did not make the least attempt to molest them; and when striding round the yard, all the poultry fled before him, although it did not appear to be an intentional chase on his part. There happened to be a pugnacious, fussy little bantam-cock in the yard, who would not permit the intrusion of any stranger, and on seeing the jabiru he strutted up with expanded and fluttering wings and ruffled feathers, in a violent state of excitement, cackling and screaming most vehemently, and making efforts, as energetic as so diminutive a bird was capable of, to frighten and drive him out of the yard. The jabiru, with his keen bright eyes, regarded the little fluttering object with cool contempt, and walked about as before; the bantam followed. At last the jabiru turned, and strode after the consequential little creature, as if to crush it under his feet; when the bantam, seeing matters take this serious turn, made off as fast as possible—like all little bullies—and did not again venture to attack so formidable an opponent. In a few days the jabiru became quite domesticated among the poultry, and they evinced no fear; even the little bantam tolerated his presence, but whether from fear or affection, Dr. Bennett did not know.

THE IBIS.

ALTHOUGH well-preserved mummies of the Ibis are to be met with in abundance, they appear, if not to have escaped the observation of naturalists, at all events to have been examined without much penetration; and even Blumenbach, the celebrated physiologist of Germany, who examined the bones of the true ibis in a mummy in London, considered them as belonging to the Tantalus ibis-a bird as large as a stork, and with a similar kind of beak. The individual to whom the merit of breaking through this fallacy is due is the traveller Bruce, who used his own eyes, and exercised his own judgment. He at once recognised the true ibis as one which at the present day abounds on the banks of the Nile.

* Phoenicopterus chilensis: Molina.

"Gatherings of a Naturalist."— Van Voorst.

Numenius ibis: Cavier,

THE AFRICAN JACANA.*

THE Jacanas are peculiar to the hotter climates of Asia, Africa, and America, and in their general habits closely resemble the moor-hen. They trip over the weeds which mantle the waters with singular ease and grace, searching for the various aquatic insects which constitute their food.