AVOSET. i6 



they cover their tables with the rare birds of Scythia, and 

 with the pJicenicopterus. Apicius, that deepest abyss of 

 vvastefuhiess, as Pliny calls him, probably cotemporary with 

 Tiberius, was the first who discovered in the tongue of the 

 Flamingo, after being highly seasoned, that exquisite relish, 

 which so recommended it to the epicures. Among the ex- 

 travagances of Heliogabalus and Vitellius, were dishes of 

 these tongues ; and Martial, upbraiding the Romans for their 

 wanton taste, imagines the Flamingo complaining, 



Dat mihi penna rubens nomen ; sed lingua gulosis 

 Nostra sapit : quid, si garrula lingua foret ? 



The Flamingo has the neck and legs in a greater disproportion than 

 any other bird. The length from the end of the bill to that of the 

 tail is 4 feet 2 or 3 inches ; but to the end of the claws measures 

 sometimes more than 6 feet. The bill is 4^ inches long ; as far as the 

 bend black, but from thence to the base, reddish-yellow; round the 

 base quite to the eye, covered with a flesh-colored cere. The tongue 

 is large and fleshy, filling the cavity of the bill, and furnished with 12 

 or more hooked and reverted papillae on each side ; the tip is also 

 sharp and cartilaginous. The plumage deep scarlet in the adult, 

 except the quills which are black. From the base of the thigh to the 

 claws, measures 32 inches, of which the feathered part takes up no 

 more than 3. 



AVOSET. (Recurvirostra, Lin.) 



In the birds of this genus the bill is very long, weak, slender, 

 depressed throughout its whole length, flexible, recurved from the 

 middle, and slightly curved at the tip ; mandibles about equal, and 

 furrowed each side at the base. Nostrils, in the furrow of the bill, 

 basal, long and linear, open. Feet long and slender; 3 toes before, 

 hind toe minute, and articulated high upon the tarsus; the anterior 

 toes webbed to the second joint by a deeply indented membrane. 

 Wings accuminated, the 1st primary longest. 



The sexes similar, except in size, the female being smaller : the 

 young also differ but little from the adult. They moult but once in 

 7 



