FLAMINGO, 6& 



near stagnant water, concealing their nest with much art : 

 the eggs are but two. The young follow their parents soon 

 after they are hatched, and are covered with blackish down. 

 The Courlan inhabits the low shores and swamps of the 

 rivers and lakes in Florida, and perhaps Georgia. Like the 

 Rail, it runs swiftly through the grass, compressing its narrow 

 body so as to pass through a small hole, and is very difficult 

 to catch when wounded. 



The Courlan is about 2 feet long ; and 3 feet 8 inches in alar ex- 

 tent. The bill 4| inches in length, yellow at base, and bluish-black 

 at tip. Iris, brown. Legs pale lead color; tarsus 4 J inches long. The 

 body is compressed, but fleshy ; the neck cylindrical and slender ; 

 the face and lora entirely feathered. The general color of the bird 

 is a deep chocolate brown, or sooty hue ; the feathers are however, 

 paler on their margins, and there is on each, about the middle, a 

 broad lanceolate white spot, most conspicuous on the wing coverts. 

 Rump, upper and lower tail coverts, outer large wing coverts, vent, 

 all the quills and tail feathers are unspotted, and of a bright choco- 

 late brown, with a greenish gloss, but darker and with purplish re- 

 flections on the quills and tail. Throat entirely whitish. 



FLAMINGO. (Phoenicopterus.* Lin.) 



In the birds of this genus, the bill is large, higher than wide, 

 light and hollow, naked at its base, the upper mandible suddenly bent 

 downward in the middle, and curved over the lower towards the 

 point; the lower mandible wider than the upper, the margins of 

 both finely toothed. Nostrils longitudinal, narrow, pervious, situated 

 about the middle of the bill, and covered above by an extensible 

 membrane. Tongue very thick and fleshy, roughened with papillae. 

 Feet, legs very long, 3 toes before, the hinder one very short, being 

 articulated very high upon the tarsus ; feet almost entirely webbed, 



* An ancient Greek name, compounded of <poivt^, the Phmnician or purple dye, 

 and TTTEpoPy a wing ; and hence the Portuguese name of Flamingo, and the French 

 Flammant, all alluding to the brilliant hue of the bird. 



