EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 59 



FAMILY PH.ENICOPTEBIDJE, 

 OR FLAMINGOES. 



This family contains only one genus, of which the European 

 representative is — 



THE COMMON FLAMINGO. 



(Phcenicopterus roseus.) 



Plate 11, Fig. 2. 



Three instances of the capture of this bird in a wild state have 

 been recorded, and one was seen by Captain Shelley near New 

 Eomney, in Kent. The first was shot in Staffordshire, the second 

 in Hampshire, and the third in Kent. 



The nest of the Flamingo is a large structure of mud, and the 

 birds build in company on the open salt-marshes of Southern 

 Europe, eastwards to India. The eggs are chalky in texture, 

 pure white, and measure 3'7 to 3*55 inches in length, and about 

 1'15 inch in breadth. 



FAMILY ABDEIDJE, 

 OR HERONS AND STORKS. 



Of the fourteen species of Herons included in the British List 

 one only is resident, the others being occasional or rare visitors. 



THE COMMON HEEON. 



(Ardea cinerea.) 

 Plate 17, Fig. 1. 



The Common Heron is a somewhat local resident throughout 

 the British Islands, but it does not appear to breed in the Outer 

 Hebrides, and rarely does so in the Orkney and Shetland Islands. 

 It has a very extensive range, breeding in most parts of Europe, 

 Asia and Africa. In Scandinavia it nests up to lat. 65°, and 



