HISTORY OF THE FLAMINGO. 55 



shores, salt lakes, and marshes. Except in the pairing 

 season, they are generally met with in large flocks, and at 

 a distance, appear like a regiment of soldiers, being often 

 arranged in file, or alongside of one another, on the borders 

 of rivers. When the Europeans first visited America, they 

 found these birds on the swampy shores quite tarne, gentle, 

 and little distrustful of mankind ; and we learn from 

 Catesby, that when the fowler had killed one, the rest of the 

 flock, instead of attempting to fly, only regarded the fall of 

 their companion in a sort of fixed astonishment, so that the 

 whole flock were sometimes killed in detail, without one of 

 them attempting to make its escape. They are now, how- 

 ever, extremely shy, and one of them acts as a sentinal 

 when the rest are feeding; and the moment it perceives the 

 least danger, it utters a loud scream, like the sound of a 

 trumpet, and instantly all are on the wing, and fill the air 

 with their clamor. Flamingos when at rest, stand on one 

 leg, having the other drawn up to the body, and the head 

 placed under the wing. When flying in bands, they form 

 an angle like geese, and in walking they often rest the flat 

 part of the bill on the ground, as a point of support. These 

 beautiful birds were held in high estimation by the ancient 

 Romans, who often used them in their grand sacrifices, and 

 sumptuous entertainments. Their emperors considered 

 them as the highest luxury ; and we have an account of 

 one of them, who procured fifteen hundred flamingos' 

 tongues to be served up in a single dish. Pliny, Martial, 

 and other writers, celebrate the tongue as the most delicate 

 of eatables. The flesh is not despised, even in modern 

 times ; but is alleged by some of those who have partaken 

 of it that it has an oily and somewhat muddy flavor. That 

 of the young is generally prefered to that of the adult bird. 

 The aeriel arrival, and general movement of these birds, 

 about the month of March, are described as being parti- 

 cularly splendid. From the high bastion which forms the 



