358 NATURAL HISTORY. 



dangerous to approach than the most formidable army, for 

 the miasma of the marshes has a more deadly aim than the 

 rifle, and its breath is more certainly fatal than the bullet. 



The nest of the Flamingo is a curious conical structure of 

 mud, with a cavity at the summit, in which are placed two or 

 three whitish eggs. When the female bird sits on the nest, 

 her feet rest on the ground, or hang into the water. The 

 height of the bird is between five and six feet. 



Sub-family c. Anscrincc. 



BERNICLA. 



Leucopsis (Gr. Aeu/cof, white ; OH/;, a face), the Berntcle Goose. 



The BERNICLE GOOSE inhabits the northern parts of Europe 

 and America, but during the winter it resorts to our shores 

 in great numbers. It is an extremely shy bird, and cannot 

 be approached without the greatest caution and skill. Of the 

 origin of this bird most absurd tales have been told. All 

 agreed that it was produced from a tree, but the latest and 

 most approved account was that of Gerard, who in 1636 

 wrote as follows : " But what our eyes have seen, and hands 

 have touched, we shall declare. There is a small island in 

 Lancashire called the Pile of Foulders, wherein are found the 



