226 KED FLAMINGO. 



twist the neck in such a manner that the upper part of the bill 

 is applied to the ground;* during this one of them is said to 

 stand centinel, and the moment he sounds the alarm, the whole 

 flock take wing. This bird when at rest stands on one leg, the 

 other being drawn up close to the body, with the head placed 

 under the wing on that side of the body it stands on. 



"The flesh of these birds is esteemed pretty good meat; and 

 the young thought by some equal to that of a Partridge;! but 

 the greatest dainty is the tongue, which was esteemed by the 

 ancients an exquisite morsel.J Are sometimes caught young 

 and brought up tame; but are ever impatient of cold, and in 

 this state will seldom live a great while, gradually losing their 

 colour, flesh and appetite; and dying for want of that food which 

 in a state of nature, at large, they were abundantly supplied 

 with." 



* Linnaeus. Brisson. 



t Commonly fat and accounted delicate. Davies's Hist. Barbad. p. 88. 

 The inhabitants of Provence always throw away the flesh, as it tastes fishy, 

 and only make use of the feathers as ornaments to other birds at particular 

 entertainments. Dillons's Trav. p. 374. 



} See Plin. IX, cap. 48. 



