17S A HISTORY OF 



and the peculiar delicacy of its flesh, have been such temptations to 

 destroy or take it, that it has long since deserted the shores frequent- 

 ed by man, and taken refuge in countries that are as yet but thinly 

 peopled. In those desert regions the flamingos live in a state of so- 

 ciety, and under a better polity than any other of the feathered crea- 

 tion. 



When the Europeans first came to America, and coasted down 

 along the African shores, they found the flamingos on several shores, 

 on either continent, gentle, and noway distrustful of mankind.* 

 They had long been used to security, in the extensive solitudes they 

 had chosen, and knew no enemies but those they could very well 

 evade or oppose. The Negroes and the native Americans were pos- 

 sessed but of few destructive arts for killing them at a distance, and 

 when the bird perceived the arrow, it well knew how to avoid it. But 

 it was otherwise when the Europeans first came among them : the 

 sailors, not considering that the dread of firearms was totally un- 

 known in that part of the world, gave the flamingo the character of a 

 foolish bird, that suffered itself to be approached and shot at. When 

 the fowler had killed one, the rest of the flock, far from attempting to 

 fly, only regarded the fall of their companion in a kind of fixed asto- 

 nishment : another and another shot was discharged, and thus the 

 fowler often levelled the whole flock before one of them began to 

 think of escaping. 



But at present it is very different in that part of the world, and the 

 flamingo is not only one of the scarcest, but of the shyest birds in the 

 world, and the most difficult of approach. They chiefly keep near 

 the most deserted and inhospitable shores, near salt-water lakes and 

 swampy islands. They come down to the banks of rivers by day, 

 and often retire to the inland, mountainous parts of the country at 

 the approach of night. When seen by mariners in the day, they al- 

 ways appear drawn up in a long, close line of two or three hundred 

 together; and, as Dampier tells us, present, at the distance of half a 

 mile, the exact representation of a long brick wall. Their rank, 

 however, is broken when they seek for food ; but they always ap- 

 point one of their number as a watch, whose only employment is to 

 observe and give notice of danger, while the rest are feeding. As 

 soon as this trusty sentinel perceives the remotest appearance of dan- 

 ger, he gives a loud scream, and with a voice as shrill as a trumpet, 

 and instantly the whole cohort are upon the wing. They feed in si 

 lence, but upon this occasion all the flock are in one chorus, and fill 

 the air with intolerable screamings. 



From this it appears that the flamingos are very difficult to be ap- 

 proached at present, and that they avoid mankind with the most cau- 

 tious timidity ; however, it is not from any antipathy to man that 

 they shun his society, for in some villages, as we are assured by La- 

 bat, along the coasts of Africa, the flamingos come in great numbers 

 to make their residence among the natives. There they assemble by 

 thousands, perched on the trees, within and abou ihe village, and 

 are so very clamorous, that the sound is heard at near a mile's dis- 

 tance The Negroes are fond of their company, and consider thei? 



* Alton's New History of Birds. 



