348 Synopsis of the Birds 



when advancing inland, where they appear astray. Feed 

 on mollusca, spawn, insects, which they fish up by means of 

 their long neck, turning their bill upside down to take advan- 

 tage of its peculiar form. Breed socially in inundated 

 marshes : raising the nest to the height of their body, by 

 heaping up the mud with their feet into a hillock concave at 

 top, where they lay and hatch, standing, often in the water : 

 eggs two or three, elongated. Young run swiftly as soon as 

 hatched. Sleep standing on one leg, the neck folded back 

 upon the body, and the head under one wing. In walking 

 assist themselves by placing their upper mandible to the 

 ground. Run swiftly. Never swim from choice. Hearing 

 and smell very acute. Voice trumpet-like. 



Spread all over the warm countries of the globe, visiting 

 occasionally the temperate shores. Formed of four species, 

 one of which visits Europe, and one also, North America. 

 May be forced into Herodii in an arbitrary system. By the 

 bill and toes, (not however, like Phalaropus, or even Recur- 

 virostra, by the texture of the plumage,) approaches the 

 Family Lamellosodentati. 



282. Phcenicopterus ruber, L. Red, quills black. 



Young, grayish-white. 



Red Flamingo, Phcenicopterus ruber, Wils. Am. Orn. viii. 

 p. 45. pi. 66. Jig. 4. adult ; and Nob. Am. Orn. Hi. young. 



Inhabits tropical America ; migrating in summer to the 

 southern, and accidentally to the middle states : rare.* 



* Phcenicopterus antiquorum, Terara. Rose color; wing's red; quills 

 black. 



Young-, whitish, with strongly marked long brownish blotches. 



Le Phceiiicoptere, Buffon PI. cnl. 63. adult. 



Inhabits the warm regions of the old continent : migrating in summer to 



southern, and accidentally to central Europe : rare. 



