SPONTINI but are microscopic vegetables. They have a remarkable power of multiplication by division or doubling of their cells ; and certain species appear to be the active agents in causing the putrefactive decomposition of albuminoid or- ganic substances. The more modern investi- gations on spontaneous generation with boiled infusions have been almost exclusively confined to this class. But even in bacteria there are indications of a reproduction by germs. Cohn in 1872 observed certain bodies in connection with bacteria, which he regarded as resting spores ; that is, spores which do not immedi- ately germinate, but remain quiescent for a certain interval and afterward become devel- oped under other conditions. These resting spores were more fully described in 1874 by Billroth, whose description has been confirmed by Stimson in 1875. According to Billroth, although the vitality of bacteria is destroyed by boiling, their resting spores will withstand this temperature, and are afterward capable of development into active forms. This may ex- plain the occasional appearance of microscopic life in organic solutions which have been sub- jected to ebullition. For the most complete recent defence of the doctrine of spontaneous generation, see " The Beginnings of Life," by H. Charlton Bastian, F. K. S. (2 vols., London and New York, 1872). SPONTIM, Gasparo Luigi Padfico, an Italian composer, born at Majolati, near Ancona, Nov. 14, 1774, died there, Jan. 24, 1851. At the age of 13 he entered the conservatory of La Pieta at Naples, and was for a time a teacher there. In 1796 he produced / puntigli delle donne, which was followed during the succeeding 10 years by 12 other operas, tragic and comic. In 1803 he went to Paris, where his first great work, La Vestale, was brought out in Decem- ber, 1807, and at once established his reputa- tion throughout Europe. It was succeeded in 1809 by another work of equal vigor, Fernan- do Cortes. The success of these works ob- tained for Spontini in 1810 the directorship of the Italian opera. He accepted the post of director general of music at the court of Prussia in 1820, and remained at Berlin for 22 years. In 1842 he returned to Paris, and near the close of his life resumed his residence in his native village. He received the title of count of Sant' Andrea from the pope, and that of doctor of philosophy and arts from the uni- versity of Halle, and was made a member of the French institute. SPOONBILL, the common name of the wading birds of the family plataleidce, characterized by a much depressed bill, very broad, and di- lated at the end in the shape of a rounded spoon. In the genus platalca (Linn.) the bill is long, straight, thin, slightly bent downward at the tip, the mandibles in close opposition and the edges not lamellar ; nostrils basal and in the lateral groove ; wings long, second quill the longest ; tail short ; legs longer than in the typical waders, tibia bare for nearly one half ; SPOONBILL 285 tarsi not much longer than middle toe, cov- ered with small hexagonal scales ; toes webbed at the base, the outer longer than the inner, the middle not pectinated, and the hind one only partly resting on the ground ; claws short and ^obtuse. There are about a half dozen species, found in all quarters of the globe, migrating to warm climates at the approach of winter ; they frequent marshy inlets of the sea, and the borders of lakes and rivers, wa- ding about in search of fish fry, worms, frogs, and aquatic insects ; they can swim and dive. The nest is made either on trees or among rushes in swampy places, and composed of coarse sticks ; the eggs are two to four, whitish. The roseate spoonbill (P. ajaja, Linn.) is about 30 in. long, and 4 ft. in alar extent ; the bill is 7 in. and covered with a soft skin; the head is of moderate size, bare, the skin yel- lowish green; the neck is long and slender, and the body compact and muscular. The prevailing color is rosy red, paler in front, and nearly white on the neck ; lesser wing coverts, upper and lower tail coverts, and lower part of throat, bright carmine; tail feathers ochrey yellow; the young have the head feathered, the carmine tint wanting, and the tail rosy. It is found in the southern At- lantic and gulf states, and is very abundant in the breeding season on Indian river, Florida; it does not go above North Carolina, nor far from the sea. These birds are essentially noc- turnal, though they often feed by day when the tide suits ; they are fond of the company of herons ; they fly with the neck and legs extended, and rise rapidly to a great height ; they alight easily on trees, and can walk on the large branches. The breeding time in the Florida keys begins in February, the young European Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia). being out of the nest by April 1 ; the nest is usually in the top of a mangrove, coarsely made ; the eggs are commonly three, elongated, 2 by 1 in., white, sprinkled all over with
