638 AVES—FLAMINGO. 
at the distance of two or three miles, it would espy the servants carrying 
the dishes across the yard, and dash down among them as they entered 
the hall. 
The attitudes of these birds are particularly curious, and frequently not a 
little ludicrous. At rest, they either stand upon one leg, with the neck 
withdrawn and the bill brought forwards towards the breast, or sit upon the 
ground with one or both legs directed straight before them. But when excited, 
they elongate their necks, and stand at their full height, menacing with 
their large bills, which are, however, toc light to inflict any serious mjury, 
even had the birds courage enough to attempt it. 
THE FLAMINGO? 
Is, perhaps, the most remarkable of water-fowl ; it is one of the tallest and the 
most beautiful. The body, which is of a beautiful scarlet, is no bigger than 
that of a swan; but its legs and neck are of such an extraordinary length, 
that when it stands erect, it is six feet six incheshigh. Its wings, extended, 
are five feet six inches from tip to tip; and it is four feet eight inches from 
tip to tail. The head is round and small, with a large bill, seven inches 
long, partly red, partly black, and crooked like a bow. The legs and thighs, 
which are not much thicker than a man’s finger, are about two feet eight 
inches high; and its neck near three feet long. The feet are feeble, and 
united by membranes, as in those of the goose. Of what use these mem- 
branes are does not appear, as the bird is never seen swimming, its legs and 
thighs being sufficient to bear it into those depths where it seeks for prey. 
This extraordinary bird is now chiefly found in America, but was once 
known on all the coasts of Europe. It is still occasionally met with on the 
shores of the Mediterranean. Its beauty, its size, and the peculiar delicacy 
of its flesh, have been such temptations to destroy or take it, that it has long 
since deserted the shores frequented by man, and taken refuge in countries 
that are as yet but thinly peopled. 
When the Europeans first came to America, and coasted down along the 
African shores, they found the flamingos on several shores on either conti- 
nent gentle, and no way distrustful of mankind. When the fowler had killed 
one, the rest of the flock, far from att mpting to fly, only regarded the fall of 
their companion in a kind of fixed astonishment; another and another shot 
was discharged; and thus the fowle: often levelled the whole fiock, before 
one of them began to think of escaping. 

1 Phenicopterus ruber, Lrx. This is the only one of the genus. Its characteristics are 
a bill thick, strong, deeper than broad, dentared, naked at the base; upper mandible bent 
over the under at the tip; the under broader than the upper; nostrils longitudinal! in the 
middle of the bill, covered by a membrane; lugs very long, with three toes before, and a 
very short one articulated high onthe tarsus behind; the fore toes connected with the 
claws; wings middle sized. 
