STORKS, HERONS, AND PELICAN TRIBE 53 



Phclo ty C--arhs Knight 



FLAMINGOES 



On account of the swan-like neck and " strainers " along the edges of the beak, these birds have 

 been regarded 'as long-legged members of the Duck Tribe, but they seem more nearly related to the 



that before they are hatched 

 the water has disappeared, 

 leaving a burning plain 

 of sun-baked mud. On 

 the top of this nest 

 the parent sits with its 

 long neck neatly curled 

 away among the back- 

 feathers, with its long legs 

 doubled up, and projecting 

 behind her for some dis- 

 tance beyond the tail. 

 Until quite recently it was 

 believed that the bird incu- 

 bated its eggs by sitting 

 astride the nest, the length 

 of the legs forbidding any 

 other position : this has 

 now been proved beyond 

 cavil to be an entirely 

 erroneous opinion. 



The eggs, two in 

 number, are peculiar in that 



they are encased in a thick outer chalky coat, which on removal reveals a greenish-blue shell. 

 The characteristic crooked beak of the adult is not at all apparent in the young bird, 



and only appears as it approaches maturity. 



The huge flocks in which these birds consort are graphically described by Mr. Abel 



Chapman as follows : " In herds of 300 to 400, several of which are often in sight at once, 



they stand feeding in the open water, all their heads under, greedily tearing up the grasses 



and water-plants from the bottom. On approaching them, which can only be done by extreme 



caution, their silence is first 



broken by the sentries, who 



commence walking away with 



low croaks ; then hundreds of 



necks rise at once to full 



extent, every bird gaggling 



its loudest, as they walk 



obliquely away, looking back 



overtheir shoulders, as though 



to take stock of the extent 



of the danger. Pushing a 



few yards forward, up they all 



rise, and a more beautiful 



sight cannot be imagined than 



the simultaneous spreading of 



the crimson wings, flashing 



against the sky like a gleam 



of rosy light. In many 



respects these birds bear a 



strong resemblance to geese. 



Like them, flamingoes feed 

 by day ; and great quantities 



t fy If. P. Dartdt, I'.'/, .. 



EUROPEAN FLAMINGOES 



These birds breed in the Si.uth of France and Sfain 



