NATURAL HISTORY. 



281 



" What is this mighty breath, ye sages, say 

 That, in a powerful language, felt, not heard, 

 Instructs the fowls of heaven ?" THOMSON. 



901. Why does the flamingo make its nest upon mound-like 



elevations ? 



Because the great length 

 of the legs of the flamingo 

 preclude the possibility of 

 its conducting incubation 

 in the ordinary manne r . 

 Inhabiting inarshy places, 

 the nests are thus raised 

 above the wet soil, to a dry 

 and warm situation, in 

 which the process of hatch- 

 ing can more effectually he 

 accomplished. 



902. These elevated nests are constructed by the bird out of loose earth or mud, 

 formed into the shape of a hillock, with a hollow cavity at the top ; the eggs are 

 two or three in number, white, and as large as those of a goose, but of a longer 

 figure. The female sits upon her nest during incubation, the attitude being that 

 of a person sitting upon a high stool the legs resting on marshy giound, and 

 sometimes even in the water. Sometimes, if the female finds a low projecting 

 rock, she makes her nest on the edge thereof, and raises no hillock. 



903. Why has the avocet a bill shaped like a scoop ? 



Avocets are fen birds ; but, in feeding, they frequent only 

 those parts of the fens which are alternately flooded and left dry 

 by tidal waters. Their bills are not adapted for talcing any kind 

 of food upon land ; neither are they fitted for fishing in the waters. 

 Their food is contained in mud, ooze, or light gravel ; and consists 

 of worms, larvae, and small molluscous and crustaceous animals, 

 wliich are there found in great plenty. The greater number of 

 these are embedded to a certain depth, and are not seen by birds 

 that feed by sight. 



