638 A VES- FLAMINGO. 



at the distance of two or three miles, it would espy the servants carrying 

 the dishes across the yard, and dash down among them as they entered 

 the hall. 



The attitudes of these birds are particularly curious, and frequently not a 

 little ludicrous. At rest, they either stand upon one leg, with the neck 

 withdrawn and the bill brought forwards towards the breast, or sit upon the 

 ground with one or both legs directed straight before them. But when excited, 

 they elongate their necks, and stand at their full height, menacing with 

 their large bills, which are, however, too light to inflict any serious injury, 

 even had the birds courage enough to attempt it. 



THE FLAMINGOS 



Is, perhaps, the most remarkable of water-fowl ; it is one of the tallest and the 

 most beautiful. The body, which is of a beautiful scarlet, is no bigger than 

 that of a swan; but its legs and neck are of such an extraordinary length, 

 that when it stands erect, it is six feet six inches high. Its wings, extended, 

 are five feet six inches from tip to tip ; and it is four feet eight inches from 

 tip to tail. The head is round and small, with a large bill, seven inches 

 long, partly red, partly black, and crooked like a bow. The legs and thighs, 

 which are not much thicker than a man's finger, are about two feet eight 

 inches high ; and its neck near three feet long. The feet are feeble, and 

 united by membranes, as in those of the goose. Of what use these mem- 

 branes are does not appear, as the bird is never seen swimming, its legs and 

 thighs being sufficient to bear it into those depths where it seeks for prey. 



This extraordinary bird is now chiefly found in America, but was once 

 known on all the coasts of Europe. It is still occasionally met with on the 

 shores of the Mediterranean. Its beauty, its size, and the peculiar delicacy 

 of its flesh, have been such temptations to destroy or take it, that it has long 

 since deserted the shores frequented by man, and taken refuge in countries 

 that are as yet but thinly peopled. 



When the Europeans first came to America, and coasted down along the 

 African shores, they found the flair ingos on several shores on either conti- 

 nent gentle, and no way distrustful oi* mankind. When the fowler had killed 

 one, the rest of the flock, far from att -mpting to fly, only regarded the fall of 

 their companion in a kind of fixed astonishment ; another and another shot 

 was discharged ; and thus the fowle often levelled the whole flock, before 

 one of them began to think of escaping. 



1 Phenicnpterus ruber, Lin. This is the ouly one of the genus. Its characteristics are 

 a bill thick, strong, deeper than broad, dentaied, naked at the base; upper mandihle bent 

 over the under at the tip; the under broader than the upper; nostrils longitudinal in the 

 middle of the bill, covered hy a membrane; 1 :gs very lorn?, with three toes before, and a 

 very short one articulated high on the tarsus behind ; the fore toes connected with the 

 claws; wings middle sized. 



