PHCENICOPTERID^. 333 



stage the bill becomes more elongated, with the extre- 

 mities black and the remaining portions first bluish and 

 subsequently pink, when the bird has become fully adult, 

 at which period the legs and feet are of a scarlet-pink 

 and the irides are orange. 



383. Phcenicoptems minor, Geoff. St.-HH. Lesser South-African 

 Flamingo. 



Phmiicopterus parvus, Temmink's PI. Col. pi. 419. 

 Phoenicopterus minor, Stiickland & Sclater, Birds Damar., Contr. 

 Orn. 1852, p. 159. 

 „ „ Andersson in Ibis, I860, p. 65. 



„ „ Layard's Cat. No. 645. 



,, ,, Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p. 420. 



„ „ Gray, in Ibis, 1869, pi. 15. fig. 8 (bead). 



„ ,, Finscb & Hartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, 



p. 798. 



This species is comparatively rare at Walwich Bay 

 and elsewhere on the south-west coast of Africa, but at 

 Lake Ngami it is more common. 



It is a perfect gem amongst the feathered tribes ; and 

 a flock of these birds quietly feeding in some secluded 

 nook, with their bright-coloured legs half immersed in the 

 w^ater and with the sunlight playing on their beautiful 

 plumage, forms a .scene which is almost fairy-like. 



In the adult bird the form of the bill is precisely the 

 same as in the newly fledged young of P. erytlirceus ; the 

 basal part of the bill is of a dull brownish purple, the 

 part adjoining being vermilion which deepens into 

 crimson bordered by black, the latter being shaded off 

 into a light horn-colour towards the extremities of the 



