FLAMINGO. SPOONBILL. 185 



THE FLAMINGO. 



This is a tall, bulky, and most beautiful bird. The body, 

 which is of a vivid scarlet, is about the size of a swan ; but 

 the legs and neck are of such extraordinary length, that, 

 when it stands erect, it is upwards of six feet high. 



This extraordinary bird was once known on all the coasts 

 of Europe, but is now chiefly found in America, and some 

 parts of Africa. Its magnitude, its beauty, and the pecu- 

 liar delicacy of its flesh when young, have afforded so 

 many incitements for its destruction, that it has long aban- 

 doned the shores frequented by man, and taken refuge 

 where he seldom intrudes. In some of the wild and soli^ 

 tary tracts of America, it lives in a state of society, and 

 under a polity which excites our admiration. 

 , .The flamingoes chiefly delight in the vicinity. of salt- 

 water lakes and swampy islands. In the day-time they 

 come down to the mouths of rivers; but towards night 

 retire more inland, to secure themselves from annoyance! 

 When they suffer themselves to be seen by mariners, they 

 always appear drawn up in a close line of two or three 

 hundred together, and exhibit, at the distance of half a 

 mile, the exact representation of a long brick wall. AVhen 

 they seek for food, their ranks are broken ; yet not before 

 they have stationed one of their number to give the signal 

 of any approaching danger. As soon as this faithful sen- 

 tinel perceives the remotest signs of annoyance, he screams 

 with a voice as loud as a trumpet, and instantly the whole 

 flock are on the wing. 



THE SPOONBILL, OR SHOVELER. 



The most remarkable peculiarity of this bird is its biD, 

 from the shape of which it derives its appellation. This 

 part is of a bright shining black colour, and has its upper 

 surface waved with dotted protuberances ; the whole sub- 

 stance being thin, light, and elastic, like whalebone. The 

 plumage of the whole body, wings, and tail, is white ; and 

 the head is adorned with a beautiful crest of white feathers, 



