320 GEALLATOEES, OE WADING BIEDS. 



cially was thought to be an exquisite dainty, and the Emperor 

 Heliogabalus appreciated it so highly that a body of troops was 

 exclusively employed in slaughtering Phoenicopteri to satisfy his 

 gastronomical tastes. At the present day we no longer eat the 

 bird ; to modern palates its flesh is disagreeable in flavour, and it 

 retains a marshy smell which is far from being pleasant. "With 

 regard to the tongue, the Egyptians, it is said, are content with 

 extracting an oil from it, which is used to flavour some descrip- 

 tions of viands. We must add, in order to complete our account 

 of the Flamingo, that it is covered with down like a Swan, which 

 is employed for the same purposes, and that its thigh-bone is 

 used in some countries in the manufacture of flutes. 



The AvocET (Fig. 115) is characterised by a very long and slender 

 bill, flexible, and curved upwards ; this latter peculiarity has pro- 



iig. llo.- Avocet {Recurvirostra uvocetta). 



cured for it the name of Recurvirostra (curved beak). It uses 

 this strange implement to rake up the sand and mud to a pretty 

 o-ood depth, in order to catch the worms, small mollusks, and fish- 

 spawn which constitute its chief food. Its long legs enable 

 it to travel in safety over swamps and lagoons ; it also swims with 

 great ease. It may often be seen looking for its food in the very 

 centre of lakes and ponds. 



The Avocet stands about twenty inches in height, although its 

 body is but little bigger than that of a Pigeon. It is a pretty bird, 

 of slender make ; its plumage is black on the head and back, and 

 white underneath. It is to be met with on both the Continents ; 

 the European species is common in Holland and on the French 

 coast. It is wild and shy in its nature, and very difiicult of 



