ANATID.E. 493 



The typical species^ — 



The Red Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), is common 

 on the American continent and in the West Indies. 

 They abound on the island of Cuba, more especially on 

 the southern side, either on its shores, or where many 

 islets at some distance from the mainland afford them 

 am])le protection. In tJieir flight they resemble Ibises, 

 and they usually move in lines with the neck and legs 

 fully extended, flapping the wings for twenty or thirty 

 yards, and then sailing smoothly over a like sjiace. Before 

 alighting they generally fly in circles round the place for 

 several minutes, when their glowing tints become more 

 conspicuous. They very rarely alight on the shore itself, 

 unless during the breeding season, but usually in the 

 water and on shallow banks, whether of mud or sand, 

 from wdiich, however, they often wade to the land 

 Their walk is stately and slow, and their caution extreme, 

 so that it is very difficult to approach them, as their great 

 heiglit enables them to perceive and watch the movements 

 of their various enemies at a distance. When travelling 

 over water, they rarely fly at a greater distance than 

 eight or ten yards from the surface ; but when passing over 

 the land, no matter how short the distance, they mount 

 to a considerable elevation. The Red Flamingo builds 

 upon the ground ; the nest is an irregular mass of earth, dug 

 in the saltponds, and entirely surrounded by water ; it is 

 scooped up from the immediate vicinity to the height of 

 two or three feet, and is hollow at the top : there is no 

 lining, nor anything but the bare earth. The number of 

 eggs is almost always two ; the incubation is not known. 

 The eggs are white, but on scraping the shell it has a 

 bluish tinge. The colour of the young is nearly wdiite, 

 and they do not attain theii' full scailet livery until two 

 years old. 



