492 PALMIPEDES. 



These remarkable birds are widely distributed 

 tlirougliout tlie warmer parts of the world. They 

 are usually observed upon the sea- shore, or in the 

 salt marshes, in flocks, consisting of many indi- 

 viduals, one of which generally acts as sentinel 

 while the others are feeding or resting. They fly 

 in a triangular phalanx, but alight in a straight line, 

 and generally remain so while seeking their food. 

 They are capable of running quickly, but when 

 walking sometimes assist themselves by placing 

 their upper mandible on the ground. They live 

 upon shell-fish, the spawn of fishes, and marine 

 animals, which they procure by means of their 

 curiously-shaped bill, turning the upper mandible 

 towards the ground, and using it as a scoop. As 

 the Flamingo stalks about upon its long stilt-like 

 legs, or wades in the shallow waters, it holds down 

 its long neck towards the ground, and the peculiarly- 

 formed upper mandible is thus turned back down- 

 wards, and constitutes a receptacle for any small 

 objects in the mud or water. These are strained out 

 by the lamellae of the mandibles, assisted by the 

 spines which fringe the fleshy tongue ; and the 

 Flamingo is thus enabled to retain the small fishes, 

 mollusca, and Crustacea that constitute its food. The 

 Flamingo is an inhabitant of southern Europe, Africa, 

 and Asia ; it is a large bird, old males often stand- 

 ing nearly five feet in height ; and as it is gregarious 

 in its habits, collecting in large flocks upon the sea- 

 coast, its bright red wings give these parties a close 

 resemblance to bodies of soldiers standing in line. 

 The nest is a very curious structure, being a small 

 hill of mud, about a foot and a half high, with a con- 

 cavity in its summit. In this the female lays two or 

 three eggs, of about the size of those of a goose, 

 which she hatches by sitting astride upon the hil- 

 lock. The young do not fly until they have nearly 

 attained their full growth, though they can run very 

 swiftly a few days after their exclusion from the 



