FLAMINGO. 105 



The Flamingo of America is found chiefly in the tropical 

 regions, whence it appears to emigrate in summer on either 

 side the equator, in the southern hemisphere visiting Brazil, 

 Peru, Chili, and Buenos Ayres, on the shores of La Plata. 

 It is also seen in Cayenne (where it is known by the name 

 of Tococo, from the usual sound of its call) and in vari- 

 ous islands of the West Indies. It breeds in Cuba and the 

 Bahamas, is not infrequent at certain seasons on the coast 

 of Florida, and sometimes solitary individuals are observed 

 even in the Middle States ; but in the Union generally the 

 species may be considered as rare. When seen at a distance, 

 such is the brilliancy of their dress and the elevation at which 

 the birds stand that they appear like a troop of soldiers being 

 arranged alongside of each other in lines, while on the borders 

 of rivers and estuaries near the sea they assemble in search of 

 their food, which consists chiefly of small fish, spawn, and 

 aquatic insects. They collect their prey by plunging in the 

 bill and part of the head, and from time to time trample with 

 their feet to disturb the water and raise it from the bottom. 

 While the rest are thus employed in seeking their subsistence, 

 one of them stands sentinel, and on the first note of alarm, a 

 kind of trumpet-call, he takes to wing, and the whole flock 

 immediately follow. 



The flesh of the American Flamingo is accounted pretty 

 good food, and that of the young is thought by some equal 

 to the Partridge. Davies, in his " History of Barbadoes," 

 says it is commonly fat and accounted delicate ; while of the 

 transatlantic species Dillon remarks that the inhabitants of 

 Provence always throw away the flesh, as it tastes fishy, and 

 make use only of the feathers as ornaments. But of this kind, 

 celebrated in history, the ancients esteemed the tongue as an 

 exquisite dainty, and Philostratus reckoned it among the deli- 

 cacies of entertainments. 



The claim of the Flamingo to recognition here rests upon its 

 appearance every year on the Keys off the most southern coast of 

 Florida ; though at an earlier day nests were found on the main- 

 land, and flocks of the birds were met with along the western shores 



