FLAMINGO. 73 



rciuk'd tlRMusolves wry :il)ly witli tlicir powerful hill and wings. Yoini"; l)irds tire very 

 helpless and do not leave the nest as soon as do the young gannets. When taken in the 

 hand they utter a stannnering cry that so nearly resenihles the eflbrts of an uneducated 

 <hnnli ehild to articulate, as to appeal strongly to the sympathies. The Man-of-wars on 

 the Caymans live wholly hy jdmidering the gannets. 



OKDEE XVI. LAMELLIROSTRES. DUCKS, GEESE. ETC. 



Anterior toes, connected by a membrane. Posterior toe, present, and more or less ele- 

 vated above the level of the anterior foes. Keel, very low, rarely exceeding in height one 

 half the tvidfh of the sternum. Marginal indentations, two, open or inclosed. Bill, provided 

 with lamella. 



This order includes the Flamingos, Swans, Geese, Ducks, etc., all of which are wide- 

 ly distributed throughout tiie world. The body is compact and thickly covered with feath- 

 ers vvhicli are unifonnly distributed over its surface. The legs are usually short but occa- 

 sionally greatly lengthened. The young are covered with down and usually run at birth. 

 One of the chief characteristics may be seen in the lamellae of the bill, which are horny, 

 tooth-like preJK'tions growing from the sides of one or both mandibles. 



FAMLY I. PIICENICOPTERID^. THE FLAMINGOS. 



Legs and neck, excessively elongated. Bill, abruptly bent in the middle, more or less 

 ■pointed. Marginal indentations, open. 



Members of this family are remarkable on account of their long legs and neck, and all 

 are residents of the Tropics. 



tiKNCS I. rilCENICOI'TEnUS. THE FLAMINGOS. 

 Generic Cliaractei-s are similar t:) those given iimlcr tlie Family lieailing. Tlie ccsophagus is dilated into h crop near 

 the lower portion. Stomach, muscular. Iiite-.tines, vcj-y long and (inite wide, with coeoa rather long. Sexes, similar. 

 There is but one .species within our limits. 



PHCENICOPTERUS RUBER. 

 Scarlet Flamingo. 



PhcBnicoptcrus ruber Lin.n., Syst. Nat. I.; 1766, 230 

 DESl'Rll'TlON. 

 Sp. Cii. Form, rather slender. Size, large. Coi.oii. Adull. Bright red throughout, darkest on wings. Prima- 

 ries, hiack. IrLs, blue, feet, red, and bill, yellow, with terminal portion, black. Young. Similar but paler. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Ki'ailily known by the bright colors and peculiar form as described. Distributed, a-s a constant resident, on the Ba- 

 'i.nmas and southward. Rare on the Florida Keys. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average mea.surements of specimens from Florida. Length, 4500; stretch, 65'25; wing, I6'00; tail, 6' 15; bill, 5'P5; 

 tarsus, 1185. Longest specimen, 48'00; greatest extent of wing, 66"00; longest wing, 16'50; tail, 6'70; bill, 6'00; tarsus, 

 12-20. Shortest -specimen, 4300; smallest extent of wing, 64'50; shortast wing, 15-50; tail, 5-60; bill, 5'70; tarsus, 11-50. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nesls, placed on the ground in marshy places, composed of mud. Eyyf, two in number, oval in form, bluish in color, 

 covered with a white calcareous deposit. Dhnensions from 2-00x3'25 to 2"ll)x3'50. 



