BIRDS — PnOENICOPTERlDAE PHOENICOPTERrS RUBER. 



G87 



Family niOETslCOPTErJBAE. 



Ch. — Le^ and neck excessively elongated. Bill with the edges lamellatod or denticulated, and bent abruptly in the middle. 

 Toea fully webbed. 



The precise position of this remarkable family is a matter of some uncertainty, some authors 

 placing it with the Anseres, on account of its webbed feet and lamellar bill, while others keep it 

 in the Grallae. I am inclined to think that its affinities are more with the Anseres ; at least, it 

 seems less out of place there than in the other sub-order. Should the statemeut to Mr. Audubon 

 be correct, that the young betake themselves to the water immediately on breaking the shell, it 

 will almost settle the question by placing it in the sub-class Fraecoces, and, conseq^uently, 

 with the Anseres. 



PHOENICOPTERUS, Linn. 



Phoenicopterus, LixK. 1748. Type Phoenicopterus ruber, L. (Gray.) 



Cii. — Xeck and feet excessively lengthened. Bill duck-like, bent abruptly downward in the middle ; the opposed edges of 

 botli mandibles lamellar. Tibia denuded for the infsrior two-thirds ; the anterior two-thirds of both tibia and tarsus enveloped 

 by one series of broad scutellae ; the circumference completed by a smaller posterior scries. Toes one-fourth the tarsus, con- 

 nected as far as the claws by a thickened membrane. Claws short, broad, blunt. Hind toe very small, elevated ; sometimes 

 warning. 



There is a soft skin at the base of the bill which extends around and behind the eye. 



Comparative measurements. 



PHOEXICOPTEKUS KUBER, Linn. 



Flamingo. 



Phoenieopimis ruber, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766. 230, (in part.)— Gmelin, I, 612.— Wilson, .^m. Orn. VIII, 1814, 45 ; 

 pi. Ixvi.— Bon. Obs. 1825, Xo. 23C.— Ib. Am. Orn. Ill, 1828, 101.— Ib. List, 1838.— Ib. 

 Consp. II, 1855, 145.— NuTTALL, Man. II, 1834, 70.— Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 255 ; pl. 

 431.— Is. Syn. 269.-18. Birds Anier. VI, 1843, 169, pl. 375. 



Sp. Cu.— Hind toe moderate. Size very largo. Color bright scarlet red ; deepest on the wings. Quills black. Logs red. 

 Bill yellow ; black from the bent portion. Length, 45 inches; wing, 16.50 ; tarsus, 12 ; bill above, (along curve,) 5.90. 

 Hab. — Warmer parts of America. Rare on the Florida Keys. 



List of specimens. 



