SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — LAMELLIROSTRES— 0D0NT0GL0SSA2. 



subserves the identical purpose of supporting the birds on the soft inud at the bottom of the 

 shallow water in which they both wade habitually ; neither of these genera contains swimming 

 birds, though both Avocets and Flamingoes can swim if put to it, and are able to rise on wing 

 from the surface of deep water. Tiie external characters are so nicely balanced between those 

 of wading and swimming birds, that Flamingoes have been placed indifferently in both groups ; 

 but nearly the whole organization corresponds essentially with that of the Duck tribe, the 

 tjrallatorial relationship, in form and habits, though so evident, being rather of analogy than 

 of affinity. The physiological nature is prsecocial ; the young are nidifugous, hatching clothed 

 and taking directly to the water. 



The interesting fossil species of Paltelodus are Miocene Flamingoes, with straight bills, 

 constituting the family Palcelodontidos. Some other flamingo-like genera are indicated by 

 remains of Eocene age. 



Family PHCENICOPTERID^ : Flamingoes. 



Bill unique in shape, abruptly bent at middle, so that the upper surface faces the ground 

 in the act of feeding and the bird then looks backward ; in length much exceeding head, very 

 large and thick, entirely invested with membrane (without the distinct terminal horny nail of 

 AnatidcE). Mandible narrower than maxilla at base, broader in the rest of its extent, ridged 

 near end. Upper mandible freely movable, fitted into the other like a lid of a box, furnished 

 along its edges with a great number (some 150) of oblique laminpe; edges of lower maiidible 

 incurved, similarly furnished. Nostrils sub-basal, nearer commissure than culmen, linear, long. 

 Tibiae bare below for a great distance, and like the tarsi l)roadly scutellate before and behind ; 

 the latter about three times as long as the femora. Toes short, the anterior palmate, with 

 incised webs ; liallux elevated, free, very small, or absent. Wings aquiniocubital, moderately 

 long, amjjle, with enlarged inner secondaries folding over and beyond primaries wiien closed ; 

 the latter 11 functional, morpliologically 12. Tail short, of 14 rectrices. There are about 

 7 species of Flamingtjes, inhabiting the warmer parts of both Hemispheres ; 3 of America 

 besides ours, and 3 or 4 Old World. They represent several genera of late systematists, the 

 most marked being Phcenicoparrus^ typified by P. andinus, wliich is 3-toed ; Phoeniconais 

 minor is African, 4-ti)pd. Our species falls in the subgenus Phoenicorodias of Gray, which is 

 identical witli Phnsnicopterus in a restricted sense. 



PHCENICOP'TERUS. (Gr. (poiviKOTrrepoi, i^lioinihopteros, Lat. phoenicopterus, a Hamingo : 

 i. e. red-wing.) Flamingoes. Character as above. Head bare between bill and eyes ; 

 throat bare. Hind toe present. Claws flattened, obtuse. Wings ample, pointed ; 1st three 

 primaries subequal and longest ; inner secondaries elongated and tapering. 

 P. ru'ber. (Lat. ruher^ red. Fig. 622.) American Red Flamingo. Adult $ 9 : Plu- 

 mage scarlet ; ])riinaries and most secondaries black. Legs lake red. Bill black on terminal 

 part, orange in the middle, the base and bare skin of head yellow. Stature nearly 5 feet ; 

 weight 6 or 8 lbs. Length about 4 feet; extent 5 feet or more; wing 16.00 inches; tail 6.00: 

 bill 5.00; tibia bare 9.00 ; tarsus 13.00 ; middle toe and claw 3.50. 9 like $ in color, but 

 smaller. Young hatch clothed in white down, with straight bill ; the latter gradually acquires 

 its 1)ent or set. The first plumage is grayisli-white, more gray and dusky on wings, and passes 

 through pink, rosy, and carmine, or vermilion tints to its full scarlet, the latter being usually 

 most intense on wings. Several years are required to perfect the plumage, and it is found in 

 Ijest order in winter; the birds become faded and dingy in April, breed in that state in May and 

 June, and when in moult are unable to fly from loss of the remiges, like other Anserine birds. 

 Bahamas, Florida and Gulf Coast, and southward ; said to have been N. to S. Carolina; now 

 scarce and local in U . S. even in Florida, where confined to some of the shallow lagoons of the 

 southern part of the peninsula, difficult of access, in flocks sometimes numbering hundreds or a 



