26 RED FLAMINGO. 



are linear, and placed in a blackish membrane ; the end of the bill as far 

 as the bend is black, from thence to the base reddish yellow, round the 

 base quite to the eye covered with a flesh-colored cere ; the neck is 

 slender, and of a great length ; the tongue large, fleshy, filling the cavity 

 of the bill, furnished with twelve or more hooked papillae on each side, 

 turning backwards ; the tip a sharp cartilaginous substance. The bird 

 when in full plumage is wholly of a most deep scarlet (those of Africa 

 said to be the deepest), except the quills, which are black ; from the base 

 of the thigh to the claws measures thirty-two inches, of which the fea- 

 thered part takes up no more than three inches ; the bare part above 

 the knee thirteen inches, and from thence to the claws sixteen ; the 

 color of the bare parts is red, and the toes are furnished with a web as 

 in the Duck genus ; but is deeply indented. The legs are not straight, 

 but slightly bent, the shin 7-ather projecting. 



" These birds do not gain their full plumage till the third year. In 

 the first they are of a grayish white for the most part ; the second of a 

 clearer white, tinged with red, or rather rose color ; but the wings and 

 scapulars are red ; in the third year a general glowing scarlet manifests 

 itself throughout ; the bill and legs also keep pace with the gradation 

 of color in the plumage, these parts changing to their colors by degrees 

 as the bird approaches to an adult state. 



" Flamingoes prefer a warm climate, in the old continent not often 

 met with beyond forty degrees north or south. Everywhere seen on the 

 African coast, and adjacent isles, quite to the Cape of Good Hope,* and 

 now and then on the coasts of Spain, f Italy, and those of France lying 

 in the Mediterranean Sea ; being at times met with at Marseilles, and 

 for some way up the Rhone. In some seasons frequents Aleppo,! and 

 parts adjacent. Seen also on the Persian side of the Caspian Sea, and 

 from thence along the western coast as far as the Wolga ; though this at 

 uncertain times, and chiefly in considerable flocks, coming from the 

 north coast mostly in October and November ; but so soon as the wind 

 changes they totally disappear.§ They breed in the Cape Verd Isles, 

 particularly in that of Sal.|| The nest is of a singular construction, 

 made of mud, in shape of a hillock, with a cavity at top ; in this the 

 female lays generally two white eggs,T[ of the size of those of a Goose, 

 but more elongfited. The hillock is of such an height as to admit of 

 the bird's sitting on it conveniently, or rather standing, as the legs are 



* In Zee Coow river. Phil. Trans. Once plenty in the Isle of France. Voy. to 

 Mauritius, p. 66. 



t About Valencia, in the Lake Albufere. Dillon's Tniv. p. 374. 

 J Russel's Aleppo, p. 69. g Decouv. Russ. ii., p. 248. 



II Damp. Voy. i., p. 70. 

 ^ They never lay more than three, and seldom fewer. Phil. Trans. 



