-414 GRALLATORES. 



at its point on the lower mandible, which is larger than the up. 

 per ; the legs are of excessive length ; the feet also very long, 

 three toes in front, hind one very short and articulated high up 

 on the tarsus ; the wings moderate ; first and second quills 

 longest. 



The EUROPEAN FLAMINGO, P. ruler, is found in the warmer 

 parts of Europe, but is common in Asia, and the coasts of Af- 

 rica. The beak is evidently adapted to its long and flexible neck. 

 When this bird wishes to feed, it merely stoops its head to the 

 water ; the upper mandible is then lowest, and as is the case 

 with the Duck, the edges of the beak filter what is received. 

 Pestilent marshy places, which urge man to a distance, are 

 boldly and safely frequented by this bird. Its plumage is a deep 

 brilliant scarlet, except the quill feathers, which are black. Ar- 

 ranged in a line, these birds appear like a file of soldiers ; but 

 the miasma of the regions in which they dwell, is more deadly 

 than the rifle, and its breath more surely fatal than the ball of 

 the cannon. The nest of the Flamingo is a conical structure of 

 mud, with an opening on the summit, in which are placed two 

 or three dusky white eggs, somewhat larger than those of a 

 goose. The nest is so high as to permit the bird to sit, or rather 

 stand, her long legs hanging down on each side at full length. 

 The height of this bird is five or- six feet, (see fig. on Chart.) 

 The flesh is said to be pretty good meat ; the young are thought 

 by some equal to a partridge. Juvenal, in his Satires, notes the 

 Flamingo, (Phoenicoplerus ingens.) as among the luxuries of the 

 table; the brains and the tongue formed one of the favorite 

 dishes of Heliogabalus. By some, however, the flesh is thrown 

 away as fishy, while the feathers are used to ornament other 

 birds served up at special entertainments. 



The American species, P. ruber* or P, chilensis, scarcely dif- 

 fers from the European. It is remarked that " the development 

 of the gizzard in this genus makes it very probable that vegeta- 

 ble substances form part of the diet of the Flamingo ; but it is 

 not likely that large fish, or indeed water animals of any great 

 size, are ordinarily devoured by these birds. The bill is a col- 

 ander, admirably contrived for separating the nutritious portions 

 whether animal or vegetable, from the mud and other useless 

 parts." The Red Flamingo is found in the warmer regions of 

 North America. C. L. Bonaparte says it is very rare and acci- 

 dental in the neighborhood of Philadelphia. In South America 

 and the West India Islands it is also found. It is particularly 

 abundant in the Bahamas, where it breeds. 



