166 FLAMINGOES A CONNECTING LINK 



they are all over bright red, but in captivity all gradually fade 

 out until they are pale pink. 



In all the world there are eight species of Flamingoes. 

 While our species 1 is bright scarlet, all over, those of Europe 

 and North Africa are almost white, with pink wing coverts. 

 The food of this bird in captivity is dried shrimps, boiled rice 

 and cubes of stale bread, fed in water. In a room which is 

 warmed to 60 Fahrenheit, it can live all winter, wading half 

 the time in water that is almost icy cold, without catching 

 cold. The voice of this bird is fearfully and wonderfully 

 made. It is a resonant, deep-bass, utterly unmusical "honk." 



1 Phoe-ni-cop'ter-us ru'ber. Length, 45 inches; spread of wings, 62 inches; 

 tarsus, 12.50 inches. 



