376 VERTEBRATA. AVES. 



bill disproportionately large, with a sudden bend in 

 the middle, as if it had been broken ; the tongue fills 

 the whole cavity, and is furnished on each side with 

 projections pointed backward. The hind toe is very 

 short. They inhabit the warm parts of both conti- 

 nents, chiefly affecting the marshy shores, where they 

 feed on shell-fish, worms, and insects. The nest is 

 as singular as their own form : it is a conical hillock, 

 formed of mud or clay, with a small hollow at the 

 top, to receive the eggs. The base of these nests is 

 usually in the shallow water ; but the summit is a 

 foot and a half above. The female seats herself 

 astride upon this column, her feet resting on the 

 ground in laying and sitting. 



The Flamingo of the ancients (P. Antiquorum) is 

 confined to the old continent : it is all over of a deep 

 crimson, except the wings, which are pale rose-pink, 

 with black quills. That of America (P. Ruber) is 

 entirely of a bright red. Their height when erect is 

 about four feet. 



Cygnus* the Swan. 



The large size of these birds, and their great length 

 of neck, seems in some measure to connect the Fla- 

 mingoes with the Ducks. Their beak is of equal 

 breadth throughout ; but very deep at the base ; the 

 cheeks bare. They feed chiefly on the seeds and 

 roots of water-plants, uniformly refusing fish. They 

 do not dive, but swim with much elegance and ease, 



* K.UXVO;, kyknos, the swan. 



