THE FLAMINGOES. 



THE SPOONBILL 



Spoonbill. 



Little Flamingo. 



The Great Flamingo is an inhabitant of the warmer parts of Europe, and, with the Little Flamingo, is 

 common in Asia and the coasts of Africa. The singularly shaped beak of this splendid bird is peculiarly 

 adapted to its long and flexible neck. When the bird wishes to feed, it merely stoops its head to the 

 water ; the upper mandible is then lowest, and is well fitted to receive the nutritive substances which are 

 entangled in a filter placed on the edges of the beak. The color of their plumage is a deep brilliant scarlet, 

 except the quill feathers, which are black. When a flock of these birds stand ranged in a line, according 

 to their custom, they present the appearance of a small and well-drilled body of soldiers, but are far more 

 dangerous to approach than the most formidable army, for the miasma of the marshes has a more deadly 

 aim than the rifle, and its breath is more certainly fatal than the bullet. The nest of the Flamingo is a 

 curious, conical structure of mud, with a cavity at the summit, in which are placed two or three whitish 

 eggs. When the female bird sits on the nest, her feet rest on the ground, or hang into the water. The 

 height of the bird is between five and six feet. 



Great Flamingo, feeding. 



The Common Spoonbill is found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and 

 frequents Holland, together with the Stork. The strange shape of 

 the tip of its beak has gained it the name of Spoonbill. It feeds on 

 worms, snails, and water plants, searching for the latter by agitating 

 the water with its broad beak. 



The nest of the White Spoonbill is sometimes placed in trees, and 

 sometimes amid rushes. It contains three whitish eggs, slightly 

 spotted with red. The length of the bird is not quite three feet. 



Wooillnrk. 



Canary Bird. 



(292) 



