GIRDS. 337 



The flamingo is the most remarkable of all the crane kind, the 

 tallest, bnlkiest, and the most beautiful. The body, which is ot 

 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 crook- 

 ed like a bow. The legs and thighs, which are not much thicke. 

 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 ail the coasts of Europe. Its beauty, its 

 size, and the peculiar delicacy of its flesh, have been such temp- 

 tations to destroy or take it, that it has long since deserted the 

 shores frequented by man, and taken refuge in countries that are 

 as yet but thinly peopled. In those desert regions, the flamingoes 

 live in a state of society, and under a better polity than any other 

 of the feathered creation. 



When the Europeans first came to America, and coasted 

 down along the African shores, they found the flamingoes on 

 several shores on either continent, gentle, and no way distrust- 

 ful of mankind.' They had long been used to security, in the 

 extensive solitudes they had chosen ; and knew no enemies but 

 those they could very well evade or oppose. The Negroes and 

 the native Americans were possessed but of few destructive arts 

 for killing them at a distance ; and when the bird perceived the 

 arrow, it well knew how to avoid it. But it was otherwise 

 when the Europeans first came among them ; the sailors, not 

 considering that the dread of fire- arms was totally unknown in 

 that part of the world, gave the flamingo the character of a fool- 

 ish bird, that suffered itself to be approached and shot at. When 

 the fowler had killed one, the rest of the flock, far fromattempt- 



I Albiii'9 New History of Birdit. 



