STORKS, HERONS, AND PELICAN TRIBE 



53 



yhoto by Cftarlts Knight 



FLAMINGOES 



On account of the sivan-like neck and " strainers " a/ong the edges of the hdik^ thae Inrdi hwve 

 been regarded as long-legged members of the Duck Trihe^ but they seem more nearly related to the 

 Storks 



that before they are hatched 

 the water lias disappeared, 

 leaving a burning' plain 

 of sun-baked mud. On 

 the top (if this nest 

 the parent sits with its 

 long neck neatl)' curled 

 away among the back- 

 feathers, with its long legs 

 doubled up, and projecting 

 behind her for some dis- 

 tance beyond the tail. 

 Until quite recently it was 

 believed that the bird incu- 

 bated its eggs b}- sitting 

 as/ridc the nest, the length 

 of the legs forbidding any 

 other position : this has 

 now been proved beyond 

 cavil to be an entirely 

 erroneous opinion. 



The eggs, two in 

 number, are peculiar in that 



reveals a greenish-blue shell. 



apparent in the }-oung bird, 



they are encased in a thick outer chalky coat, which on removal 



The characteristic crooked beak of the adult is not at all 

 and only appears as it approaches maturit}-. 



The huge flocks in which these birds consort are graphicall}- described b}' Mr. Abel 

 Chapman as follows: " In herds of 300 to 400, several of which are often in sight at once, 

 they stand feeding in the open water, all their heads under, greedih' tearing up the grasses 

 and water-plants from the bottom. On approaching them, which can only be done by extreme 

 caution, their silence is first 

 broken by the sentries, who \A%/ 

 commence walking awa\' w ith 

 low croaks; then hundreds of 

 necks rise at once to full 

 extent, every bird gaggling 

 its loudest, as they walk 

 obliquely away, looking back 

 overtheir shoulders, as though 

 to take stock of the extent 

 of the danger. Pushing a 

 few yards forward, up the\' all 

 rise, and a more beautiful 

 sight cannot be imagined than 

 the simultaneous spreading of 

 the crimson wings, flashing 

 against the sky like a gleam 

 of rosy light. In many 

 respects these birds bear a 



"^ fheti hj If. P. Dando, F.7..S. 



Strong resemblance to geese. 



Like them, flamingoes feed EUROPEAN FLAMINGOES 



by day ; and great quantities These birds breed in the South of Frame and Spain 



