108 PHCENICOPTERID^: PHCENICOPTERUS 



lamellae ; the nostrils are slits about half way along the straight 

 portion of the upper mandible ; neck very long with eighteen to 

 nineteen cervical vertebrae ; tail of from twelve to sixteen feathers, 

 square ; legs very long, the tibio-tarsus feathered for only about a 

 quarter of its length ; tarsus covered* with large transverse scutes 

 before and behind ; anterior toes fully webbed ; the claws rather 

 flattened and nail-like ; hind toe very small but present (in the 

 African species). 



Six species of Flamingoes are generally recognised, distributed 

 over the warmer portions of Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. 

 Two species here described are found in Africa, and, owing to 

 differences in the shape of the mandible, have been sometimes 

 placed in separate genera. 



Key of the Species. 



A. Larger, wing about 18 in adult; upper mandible 



slightly convex and shutting down on the top of 



the edges of the lower one P. roseus, p. 108. 



B. Smaller, wing about 14 in adult; upper mandible 



flattened and shutting down between the rami of 



the lower one P. minor, p. 111. 



2/-/ /T"^/ '/}-^r^ 



609. Phcenicopterus roseus. Greater Flamingo. 



Phcenicopterus roseus, Pall., Zoogr. Eosso-As.ii, p. 207 (1811); Dresser, 

 B. Eur. vi, p. 343, pi. 410 (1879) ; Fleck, Journ. Ornith. 1894, p. 386 ; 

 Salvadori, Cat. B. M. xxvii, p. 12 (1895) ; Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 170 

 (1896) ; Woodward Bros. Natal B. p. 206 (1899) ; Alexander, Ibis, 

 1900, p. 442 ; Eeiclienow Vog. Afr. i ? p. 349 (1901) ; W. L. Sclater, 

 Ibis, 1904, p. 86. 



Phcenicopterus antiquorum, Temm., Man., 2nd ed., ii, p. 587 (1820) ; 

 Grill, K. Vet. AJcad. Handl. ii, no. 10, p. 56 (1858) ; Gray, Ibis, 1869, 

 p. 441, pi. xiii, figs. 1, 2. 



Phcenicopterus erythraeus [in part], J. <& E. Verr., Rev. Mag. Zool. 

 1855, p. 221 ; Andersson, Ibis, 1865, p. 64 ; Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 345 

 (1867) ; Gurney in Andersson s B. Damaral. p. 331 (1872) ; Sharpe, 

 ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 744 (1884) ; Chapman, Ibis, 1884, pp. 71, 

 88, pi. 4. 



Other references are Sparrman, Voyage, 8vo ed. i, p. 30 (1785) ; 

 Lichtenstein, Travels in S. Africa, i, p. 44 (1812) ; Delagorgiie, 

 Voyage dans I' Afr. austr. i, p. 53 (1847) ; Baines, Explorations in 

 South-ivest Africa, p. 9, fig. on frontispiece (1864). 



Description. Adult Male. General colour above and below 

 white tinged with rosy, most strongly marked on the tail ; primaries, 



