PH(ENICOPTERID^. 



Suborder II. PHCENICOPTERI. 



Ribs with uncinate processes ; basipterygoid processes absent or 

 very rudimentary ; lacrymo-nasal region elongated ; frontalia narrow, 

 not covering the orbits above ; grooves lor orbital glands present ; 

 ca3ca well developed ; a ventral bare tract ; wing aquintocubital ; 

 tarsus three times the length of the femur, scutellated in front and 

 behind ; anterior toes fully webbed ; margin of bill laminated. 



Besides, the Flamingoes have a very long neck, with 18 or 19 

 cervical vertebra?, the bill abruptly bent in the middle and more or 

 less pointed, the tongue large aud thick, the general plumage of a 

 rosy colour, whicli on the wing-coverts changes into bright crimson 

 red. They build a nest with mud, and lay only one white egg ; the 

 young are covered with whitish down, and nidifugous, and have the 

 bill straight. 



Flamingoes are tropical birds. 



On the anatomy of the Flamingoes, see Owen, " On the Anatomy 

 of the Flamingo " (P. Z. S. 1832, pp. 141-144) ; Milne-Edwards, 

 " Caracteres osteologiques de la Famille des Phcenicopterides " 

 (Oss. Foss. ii. pp. 85-52, 1860-71) ; Garrod, P. Z. S. 1873, pp. 460, 

 467 (both carotids), p. 638 (muscles) ; Gadow, " Anatomic des 

 Phcenicojytervs roseus und seine Stellung im System" (J. f. 0. 1877, 

 pp. 882-396, pi. 6. figs. 1 a, 1 6) ; Weldon, W. F. R., " On some 

 Points in the Anatomy of Phcenicopierus and its allies " (P. Z. S. 

 1883, pp. 638-652, pis. lix., Ix.) ; Parker, W. K., " On the ' Manus ' 

 of PhoenicojJterus " (' Ibis,' 1889, pp. 183-185) ; Shufeldt, " Note on 

 the Anserine Affinities of the Flamingoes" (' Science,' 1889, pp. 224, 

 225). 



One family only. 



Family PHCENICOPTERID^. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Upper maudible overlapping the lower 

 lamellfe on the edges of the upper man- 

 dible almost perpendicular; throat naked. 1. Phcenkoptehus, p. 9. 

 />. Upper raandible included between the rami 

 of the lower one ; lamellae on the edges 

 of the upper mandible more or less hori- 

 zontal ; throat feathered. 

 a'. Hind toe present ; lamellfe on the edges 



of the upper mandible smaller 2. Phceniconaias, p. 18. 



fj'. Hind toe absent; lamellfe on the edges 

 of the upper mandible very prominent 

 and quite horizontal 3. Phcknicopabhus, p. 21. 



