XVI 

 THE FLAMINGO 



ORNITHOLOGISTS, as is their wont, have 

 disputed much among themselves as to 

 whether the flamingo is a stork-hke duck 

 or a duck-hke stork. Indians accept 

 the former view and call the bird the King Goose 

 [Raj Hans) ; their opinion was shared by Jerdon, 

 who classed the flamingo among the geese. Likewise, 

 Stuart Baker has given flamingos a place among the 

 Indian ducks and their allies. 



The flamingo is both wader and swimmer. It has 

 long legs, the better to wade with, and webbed feet 

 admirably adapted to natation. The bird certainly 

 wades by preference. I have never seen it in water 

 sufficiently deep to render swimming necessary or 

 even possible. Those who have been more fortunate 

 state that the swimming movements of the flamingo 

 resemble those of a swan. I doubt whether flamingos 

 ever swim from choice, but the webbed feet are 

 likely to be useful, especially in the case of young 

 birds, when flamingos are swept off their feet by the 

 wind in a violent storm. 



Two species of flamingo occur in India. These are 



91 



