Flamingoes 273 



that is not the case. The floating grasses are only incidentally 

 uprooted by the birds while delving in the mud. The Spanish 

 marshmen say flamingoes " live on mud," and truly an examina- 

 tion of their crops appears to confirm this. But the mud is only 

 taken in because of the masses of minute creatures {animalculae) 

 which it contains, and which form the food of the flaminsfo. 

 What precisely these living atoms are would require ])oth a 

 microscopical examination and a knowledge of zoophites to 

 determine. The tongue of a flamingo is a thick, fleshy organ 

 filling the whole cavity of the mandibles, and furnished with a 

 series of flexible bony spikes, or hooks, nearly half an inch long 

 and curving inwards. Flamingoes' tongues are said to have 

 formed an epicurean dish in Roman days. However that may be, 

 we found them, on trial, quite uneat- 

 able — touo^h as india-rubber ; even our ^ ~.^S^ 

 dogs refused the "delicacy." This bird's 

 flesh is dark-red and rank, quite un- 

 eatable. 



In the New World the mystery of 

 the nesting habits of the flamingo head of flamingo 



(PlwenicOpterUS ruber) was solved just showing tlie spikes on tongue and 

 , , , . . , lamellae on mandibles. 



three years later, and m a precisely ^The beak bad to be forced open.] 

 similar sense. 



We will close this chapter with a reference to a recent and 

 most complete demonstration of our subject — that of our name- 

 sake, Mr. Frank M. Chapman, of the American Museum, New 

 York, in his Camijs a7id Cruises of an OrnitJiologist. Therein 

 is set forth, in Chapter IV., the last word on this topic. In 

 America, as in Spain, the final solution of the problem was only 

 attained after years of patient effort and many disappointments. 

 AVith the thoroughness of thought and honesty of purpose that 

 marks our transatlantic progeny while treating of natural pheno- 

 mena, this book sets forth the life-history and domestic economy 

 of the flamingo, from egg to maturity, illustrated by a series 

 of photographs that are absolutely unique.' We conclude by 

 quoting our bird-friend's opening sentence : " There are larger 

 birds than the flamingo, and birds with more brilliant plumage, 



^ It is right to add tliat in America tlie growth of mangrove and other bushes, sometimes 

 in close proximity to tlie nests, oilers facilities to the photographer that are wdiolly wanting 

 in Spain, where the Hamingo only nests in perfectly oi)en waters devoid of the slightest 

 covert or means of concealment. 



T 



