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BIRDS—PHOENICOPTERIDAE—PHOENICOPTERUS RUBER. 687 
Family PHOENICOPTERIDAE. 
Cu.—Legs and neck excessively elongated. Bill with the edges lamellated or denticulated, and bent abruptly in the middlo. 
Toes 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 statement 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 Praecoces, and, consequently, 
with the Anseres. 
PHOENICOPTERUS, Linn. 
Phoenicopterus, Linn. 1748. Type Phoenicoplerus ruber, L. (Gray.) 
Cu.—Neck and feet excessively lengthened. Bill duck-like, bent abruptly downward in the middle ; the opposed edges of 
both mandibles lamellar. Tibia denuded for the inferior 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 series. 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 
wanting. 
There is a soft skin at the base of the bill which extends around and behind the eye. 
] 
Catal. Species. Locality. | Sex. Length. Stretch |Wing., Tail. Tarsus. | Middle | Its | Bill Nine areninen | Remarks. 
No. of wings | toe. | claw. above. gape. measured. 
ale ea Co eed iat | 
8695 | Phoenicopterus ruber ..| Indian Key, Fla..| GQ ....6.. cewcee|eoe os 6.70 | 12.20) 3.50 | 0.38 | 5.90 | 5,00 | Skin....| Moulting .. 
| sl escvecleocces Fresh ...|secscesevece 
5.70 5,00 | Skin ....| Moulting .. 
seese bse | Fresh o2.|ccssescceses 
6.00 | 5.00 | Skin... Moulting ., 
sees Jeosece| Fresh sce] cccccccccece 
PHOENICOPTERUS RUBER, Linn. 
Flamingo. 
Phoenicopterus ruber, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 230, (in part.)—Gmeuin, I, 612.—Witson, Am. Orn. VIII, 1814, 45; 
pl. Ixvi.—Bon. Obs. 1825, No. 236.—In. Am. Orn. III, 1828, 101.—In. List, 1838.—Is. 
Consp. I, 1855, 145.—Norratr, Man. II, 1834, 70.—Avup. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 255; pl. 
431.—Is. Syn. 269.—Is. Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 169, pl. 375. 
Sp. Cu.—Hind toe moderate. Size very large. Color bright scarlet red ; deepest on the wings. Quills black. Legs 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. 
No. 
of wings. 
Catal. | Sex. Locality. When collected. Whence obtained. tana Stretch | Wing. | Remarks. 
| 
| 
8697 3 IndianvKeya Wlaseons|Sscasseccaacaces G. Wurdemann -..-- | 48. 00 66. 00 16.50 | Moulting.-. 
S698: \neneas Os ae roe seas | Sa townas cieseecnt|an ec (ato So eae ee 48.00 | 66.00 162,50" | 2=. 00sec ees 
BE9Cs heen deter eee ol hPa SA dow eeeee | 49,00 |, 64, 60" 190) es sdoe me 
8695 oP aleseeas d0mseaccotecre August 6, 1857 |.....- dowses S222. | 48. 00 66. 00 16600 |S sdosees= = 
