SPUR WINGED GOOSE. I'lvctrophancf 



When flying the Flamingo still associates itself with its comrades, and the flock form 

 themselves into regular shapes, each band evidently acting under the command of a leader. 

 The nest of the Flamingo is rather curious, and consists of mud and earth scraped 

 together so as to form a tall hillock with a cavity at the summit. In this cavity the eggs 

 are laid, and the bird sits easily upon them, its limbs hanging down at each side of the nest 

 like a long-legged man sitting on a milestone. The eggs are white, their number is two or 

 three, and the young birds are all able to run at an early age. Like many other long- 

 legged birds, the Flamingo has a habit of standing on one leg, the other being drawn up 

 and hidden among the plumage. 



The curious beak of this bird is orange-yellow at the base and black at the extremity, 

 and the. cere is flesh-coloured. When in full plumage the colour is brilliant scarlet, witlj 

 the exception of the quill -feathers, which are jetty black. A full-grown bird will measure 

 from five to six feet in height. 



THE curious bird represented in the engraving brings us nearer to the true Geese. 



The SPUE-WINGED GOOSE inhabits Gambia and Senegal, and is remarkable for the 

 peculiarity from which it derives its name. The reader will remember that several birds, 

 such as the jacana and the screamers, are armed with horny claws or spurs upon the 

 bend of the wing ; and it is rather remarkable that the same formation is found in one 

 genus of the Goose tribe, the wings of the Spur-winged Goose being supplied with two 

 of these appendages. The head, too, is notable for a bold elevated crest, which starts 

 from the base of the bill, and which during the life of the bird is of a light red colour. 

 This protuberance is really part of the skull, and has a veiy curious aspect when the 

 skeleton is prepared. One or two specimens of this bird have been taken in England. 

 Mr. Yarrell mentions two such examples, and in the " Annals of Sporting " there is a 

 notice of a third specimen having been killed in 1827 at Donningtoii Grove on a large 

 piece of water. Several swans were in the same locality, but the bird always avoided 

 them. 



The colouring of this species is bold and simple. The general tint of the plumage is 

 deep black glossed with purple, but the throat, front of the breast, and abdomen are 

 white, In owe it rather exceeds the domestic goose. 



