AVES— FLAMINGO. 



639 



But at present it is very different in that part of the v/orld ; and the fla- 

 mingo is not only one of the scarcest, hut one of the shyest birds in the 

 world, and the most difBcult of approach. They chiefly keep near the most 

 deserted and inhospitable shores; near salt water lakes and swampy islands. 

 When seen by mariners in the day, they always appear drawn up in a long 



close line of two or three hundred together ; and, as Dampier tells us, present 

 at the distance of half a mile, the exact representation of a long brick wall. 

 This line, however, is broken when they seek for food ; but they always 

 appoint one of the number as a watch, whose only employment is to observe 

 and give notice of danger while the rest are feeding. 'As soon as this trusty 

 sentinel perceives the remotest appearance of danger, he gives a loud 

 scream, with a voice as shrill as a trumpet, and instantly the whole cohort 

 are upon the wing. The flesh of the old ones is black and hard, though, 

 Dampier says, well tasted ; that of the young ones is better. But, of all 

 delicacies, the flamingo's tongue is the most celebrated. In fact, the 

 Roman emperors considered them as the highest luxury ; and we have an 

 account of one of them, who procured fifteen hundred flamingos' tongues 

 to be served up in a single dish. The tongue of this bird, which was so 



