«.JI 'Afv^ ^ '/* 



416 



LAMELLIROSTKAL GllALLATORES — PHCENICOPTERI. 



Length, about 42.0O-48.(M) inciiL-s ; extent, 64.0<)-()6.(H» ; wing, 15.30-16.50 ; culmen, about 

 5.20 ; baio portion of tibia, 10.00 ; t.iKU.s, 12.00-14.50 ; niidiUe toe, 3.20. 



Perl'i'ctly ailult e.xanipk's are almost uniform tine vennilion-scarlet, as ile.scribed above ; lesa 

 mature inilividuals are paler, the neeii ami b(xly liyht vermilion-pink, tlie wiu'^s light vermilion- 

 flcurlet. The very young birds ui'e said to be covered with a white cottony down. 



M 



I 



m 



The American Flamingo has small c-laim to be ranked as a bird of tlie Xortli 

 American fauna, being found only in the extreme portion of Florida 5 and, even there, 

 the constant persecutions to which it is subjected nuist, by the resulting extei- 

 niination of the species within a very few years, put an end to even this limited 

 claim. This Flamingo is more or loss abundant in several of the AVest India Islands. 

 most especially Cuba and the Bahama Islands ; and a single specimen has been 

 noticed in the Uernmdas. 



The late Dr. Gustavus Wiirdemann visited Florida in 1857, and made some inter- 

 esting observations rehitive to this species, which Avere published, after his death, in 

 the "Annual Keport of the Smithsonian Institution'' for ISfJO. He speaks of tlic 

 Flamingo as being known to but few of the inhabitants of Flori<la, and as being con- 

 fined to the immediate neighlxu'hood of the most southern ])ortion of that penin- 

 sula — Ctape Sable and the Keys in its vicinity. It existed formerly near Indian 

 lliver, but had been driven from that region. On the west coast of Florida it ranges 

 as far north as Cape Romano, where it Avas seen every year, but was not known to 

 breed there, and was supposed to nest among the fresh-water lakes near Cape Sable. 



Having been told that Flanungoes were taken during the latter i)art of June and 

 early in July, when numlting, in large nundiers by Avreckers. ])r. AViirdemann sought 

 for an opportunity to witness their capture, and with this view accompanied a small 

 party early in August. We give Dr. "Wiirdemann's account, only abridging his naii;i- 

 tive somewhat. After a while the Captain shouted, "Tht^ Flamingoes !'' IJut it was 

 not until an advance of another mile had been made that the Doctor was able to per- 

 ceive two red spots, ajjparently under two distant Keys ; these proved to be large 

 flocks of this bird, which started up when the party came within half a mile of 

 them, leaving six of their nundier behind, which were nu)ulting, and unable to fol- 

 low. Paddling as fast as they could, the nu'U soon came up with these birds, which 

 employed both wings and legs in endeavoring to escape. The Captain seized one 

 after another and threw them into tlu^ boat, taking the whole six. They afterward 

 overtook other flocks of the Flamingoes in a similar manner, luitil the small canoi' 

 was loaded doAvn with mori' than a hundred of tlu'se unfortunate birds, packed away 



L 



