72 WADING BIRDS. 



Brazil, Peru, Chili, and Buenos Ayres, on the shores of La 

 Plata. It is also seen in Cayenne, (where it is known by 

 the name of Tococo, from the usual sound of its call,) and 

 in various islands of the West Indies. They breed in Cuba 

 and the Bahamas, are not unfrequent at certain seasons on 

 the coast of Florida, and sometimes solitary individuals are 

 observed even in the Middle States, but in the Union gen- 

 erally, the species may be considered as rare. When seen 

 at a distance, such is the brilliancy of their dress, and the 

 elevation at which they stand, that they appear like a troop 

 of soldiers, being arranged alongside of each other, in lines, 

 while on the borders of rivers and estuaries near the sea, 

 they assemble in search of their food, which consists chiefly 

 of small fish, spawn, and aquatic insects. They collect 

 tlieir prey by plunging in the bill and part of the head ; and 

 from time to time trample with their feet, to disturb the 

 water, and raise it from the bottom. While the rest are 

 tlius employed in seeking their subsistence, one of them 

 stands sentinel, and, on the first note of alarm, a kind of 

 trumpet call, he takes to wing, and the whole flock immedi- 

 ately follow. 



The flesh of the American Flamingo is accounted pretty 

 good food, and that of the young is thought by some as equal 

 to the partridge. Davies, in his History of Barbardoes, (p. 

 88,) says they are commonly fat, and accounted delicate. 

 While of the transatlantic species, Dillon* remarks, that, 

 the inhabitants of Provence always throw away the flesh, as 

 it tastes fishy, and only make use of the feathers, as orna- 

 ments. But of this kind, celebrated in history, the ancients 

 esteemed the tongue as an exquisite dainty :f and Philostra- 

 trus reckoned them among the delicacies of entertainments. 

 Juvenal, upbraiding the Romans with their luxury, says, 



* Travels p. 374. t ^ee Pliny ix. cap. 48. 



