i88 THE NESTS A\D EGGS OF 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Smew 

 cannot b2 distinguished from those of the Wigeon, so 

 far as colour is concerned, but though they are about 

 the same size they are proportionately much heavier in 

 shell weight. The down, which is pale grayish-white, 

 is a further aid to their correct identification. 



Family PHCEXICOPTERID.E. Genus Phcenicopterus. 



FLAMINGO. 



Phcenicopterus roseus, Pallas. 



(British : Very rare abnormal autumn migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, end of May and early June. 



Breeding area : South-western PaLxarctic region 

 and northern Ethiopian region. The Flamingo breeds 

 in Spain, Southern France (marismas of the Guadalquivir, 

 marshes of the Camargue, etc.), and various other por- 

 tions of Southern Europe, as far east as the low swampy 

 northern shores of the Caspian. Eastwards in Asia it 

 certainly breeds on the Kirghiz Steppes and in Persia, but 

 how far north and east is very imperfectly known, some 

 authorities stating that it occurs as far as the Baikal area, 

 which seems probable, seeing that it is a winter visitor to 

 India. South of the Mediterranean it breeds in Algeria 

 and Tunis. It may possibly breed on the Canaries and 

 Cape Verd Islands, although no evidence of the fact was 

 obtained by Mr. Meade Waldo in the former group ; 

 but in the latter loc dity nests were actually seen by 

 Captain Dam pier {Collect. Voyages, \. pp. 70, 71 ; 1729) : 

 later information is wanting. The breeding range of 



