440 



The Living Animals of the World 



that before they are hatched 

 the water has disappeared, 

 leaving a burning plain 

 of sun-baked mud. On 

 the top of this nest 

 the parent sits with its 

 long neck neatly curled 

 away among the back- 

 feathers, with its long legs 

 doubled up, and projecting 

 behind her for some dis- 

 tance beyond the tail. 

 Until quite recently it was 

 believed that the bird incu- 

 bated its eggs by sitting 

 astride the nest, the length 

 of the legs forbidding any 

 other position : this has 

 now been proved beyond 



Photo liy diaries Knight] 



cavil to be an entirely 

 erroneous opinion. 



[Aldershot. 

 FLAMINGOES. 



On account of the swan-like neck and "strainers" along the edges of the beak, these birds 

 have been regarded as long-legged members of the Duck Tribe, but they seem more nearly related 1 D. 6 6 g g S , tWO in 



to the storks. number, are peculiar in that 



they are encased in a thick outer chalky coat, which on removal reveals a greenish-blue shell. 



The characteristic crooked beak of the adult is not at all apparent in the young bird, 

 and only appears as it approaches maturity. 



The huge flocks in which these birds consort are graphically described by Mr. Abel 

 Chapman as follows : " In herds of 300 to 400, several of which are often in sight at once, 

 they stand feeding in the open water, all their heads under, greedily tearing up the grasses 

 and water-plants from the bottom. On approaching them, which can only be done by extreme 

 caution, their silence is first 

 broken by the sentries, who 

 commence walking away with 

 low croaks ; then hundreds of 

 necks rise at once to full 

 extent, every bird gaggling 

 its loudest, as they walk 

 obliquely away, looking back 

 over their shoulders, as though 

 to take stock of the extent 

 of the danger. Pushing a 

 few yards forward, up they all 

 rise, and a more beautiful 

 sight cannot be imagined than 

 the simultaneous spreading of 

 the crimson wings, flashing 

 against the sky like a gleam 

 of rosy light. In many 

 respects these birds bear a 



Strong resemblance to geese. Photo by W. P. Dando, F.Z.S.l (Regent's Park. 



Like them, flamingoes feed EUROPEAN FLAMINGOES. 



by day; and great quantities These birds breed in the South of France and Spain. 



