CHAP. II.] FLAMINGO. 175 



to the scenery that has scarcely yet been touched by the 

 sunlight. 



VL GKALLJE. On reaching the marshy plains and shal- 

 low lagoons on either side of the island, the astonishment 

 of the stranger is excited by the endless multitudes of stilt- 

 birds and waders which stand in long array within the 

 wash of the water, or sweep in vast clouds above it. Ibises 1 , 

 storks 2 , egrets, spoonbills 3 , herons 4 , and the smaller races 

 of sand larks-tnd plovers, are seen busily traversing the 

 wet sand, in search of the red worm which burrows 

 there, or peering with steady eye to watch the motions 

 of the small fry and aquatic insects in the ripple on the 

 shore. 



VII. ANSERES. Preeminent in size and beauty, the tall 

 flamingoes 5 , with rose-coloured plumage, line the beach in 

 long files. The Singhalese have been led, from their co- 

 lour and their military order, to designate them the 

 " English Soldier birds" Nothing can be more startling 

 than the sudden flight of these splendid creatures when 

 alarmed ; their strong wings beating the air sound like 

 distant thunder ; and as they soar over head, the flock 

 which appeared almost white but a moment before, is con- 

 verted into crimson by the sudden display of the red 

 lining of their wings. A peculiarity in the beak of this 

 bird has scarcely attracted the attention it merits, as a 

 striking illustration of creative wisdom in adapting the 

 organs of animals to their local necessities. The upper 

 mandible, which is convex in other birds, is flattened 

 in the flamingo, whilst the lower, instead of being flat, 

 is convex. To those who have had an opportunity of 

 witnessing the action of the bird in its native haunts, the 

 expediency of this arrangement is at once apparent. To 

 counteract the extraordinary length of its legs, it is pro- 

 vided with a proportionately long neck, so that in feeding 



Tantalus leucocephalus, and Ibia 



falcinellus. 



8 The violet-headed Stork (Ci- 

 conia leucocephala). 



3 Platalea leucorodia, Linn. 



4 Ardea cinerea. A. purpurea. 



5 Phcenicopterus roseus, Pallas. 



