338 HISTORV OF 



ing to fly, only regarded the fall of their companion in a kind of 

 fixed astonibhment ; another and another shot was discharged ; 

 and thus the fowler often levelled the whole flock, before one of 

 them began to think of escaping. 



But at present it is very diflferent in that part of the world ; 

 and the flamingo is not only one of the scarcest, but of the shy- 

 est birds in the world, and the most difficult of approach. They 

 chiefly keep near the most deserted and inhospitable shores , 

 near salt-water lakes and swampy islands. They come down to 

 the banks of rivers by day ; and often retire to the inland moun- 

 tainous parts of the country at the approach of night. When 

 seen by mariners in the day, they always appear drawn up in a 

 long close line of two or three hundred together ; and, as Dam- 

 pier tells us, present at the distance of half a mile, the exact re 

 presention of a long brick wall. Their rank, however, is broken 

 when they seek for food ; but they always appoint one of the 

 number as a watch, whose only employment is to observe and 

 give notice of danger, while the rest are feeding. As soon as 

 this trusty centinel perceives the remotest appearance of danger, 

 he gives a loud scream, with a voice as shrill as a trumpet, and 

 instantly the whole cohort are upon the wing. They feed in 

 silence ; btit upon this occasion, all the flock are in one chorus, 

 and fill the air with intolerable screamings. 



From this it appears, that the flamingoes are very difficult to 

 be approached at present, and that they avoid mankind with the 

 most cautious timidity ; however, it is not from any antipathy to 

 man that they shun his society, for in some villages, as we are 

 assured by Labat, along the coasts of Africa, the flamingoes 

 come in great numbers to make their residence among the na- 

 tives. There they assemble by thousands, perched on the trees, 

 within and about the village ; and are so very clamorous, that 

 the sound is heard at near a mile's distance. The Negroes are 

 fond of their company ; and consider their society as a gift of 

 Heaven, as a protection from accidental evils. The French, 

 who are admitted to this part of the coast, cannot, without some 

 degree of discontent, see such a quantity of game untouched, and 

 rendered useless by the superstition of the natives : they now 

 and then privately shoot some of them, when at a convenient 

 distance from the village, and hide them in the long grass, if they 

 perceive any of the Negroes approaching ; for they would proba- 



