330 HISTORY OF 



figure, and appetites, entirely remove it from that 

 groveling class of animals. With a longer neck 

 and legs than any other of the crane kind, it 

 seeks its food by wading among waters; and 

 only differs from all of this tribe in the manner of 

 seizing its prey ; for as the heron makes use of 

 its claws, the flamingo uses only its bill, which is 

 strong and thick for the purpose, the claws being 

 useless, as they are feeble, and webbed like those 

 of water fowl. 



The flamingo is the most remarkable of all the 

 crane kind, the tallest, bulkiest, and the most 

 beautiful. The body, which is of a beautiful 

 scarlet, is no bigger than that of a swan ; but its 

 legs and neck are of such an extraordinary length, 

 that when it stands erect it is six feet six inches 

 high. Its wings extended, are five feet six inches 

 from tip to tip ; and it is four feet eight inches 

 from tip to tail. The head is round and small, 

 with a large bill, seven inches long, partly red, 

 partly black, and crooked like a bow. The legs 

 and thighs, which are not much thicker than a 

 man's finger, are about two feet eight inches 

 high, and its neck near three feet long. The 

 feet are not furnished with sharp claws, as in 

 others of the crane kind, but feeble, and united 

 by membranes as in those of the goose. Of what 

 use these membranes are does not appear, as the 

 bird is never seen swimming, its legs and thighs 

 being sufficient for bearing it into those depths 

 where it seeks for prey. 



This extraordinary bird is now chiefly found in 

 America, but it was once known on all the coasts 



