INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 7 



They do not, however — at least in this country — always rise in the 

 same graceful manner, but both before rising and after alighting run 

 forward some steps in a most ungainly manner. 



They generally leave Northern India in May or June, though they 

 have been seen in July, and the first few birds return in the end of 

 September. From Southern as well as from Eastern India, they 

 migrate earlier a good deal, as a rule, but they have been recorded in 

 Ceylon in May. 



As might be expected from the very curious formation of the 

 flamingo's bill, their mode of feeding is also rather remarkable. 

 Bending down their long necks between their legs, and looking very 

 much like bird acrobats preparing to stand on their heads, they invert 

 their bills entirely and U8e them as shovels in which to catch or collect 

 their food. This they obtain by moving their heads backwards and 

 forwards, or from one side to another, and gently stirring up the 

 mud. What they actually feed on is not at all well known, and is 

 one of the easy points still left for sportsmen to clear up, as it only 

 means the examination of the internal economy of a few birds shot 

 whilst feeding. We know that a considerable part of their diet is 

 vegetarian, but they are also, in all probability, far more given to 

 animal food than has generally been believed to be the case. Mr. Eagle 

 Clarke, in his interesting article already referred to, came to the con- 

 clusion that the flamingoes inhabiting the Rhone delta existed almost 

 entirely, if not quite, on a tiny Phyllopod, the brine shrimp [Artemia 

 saleria) which he states is found there in " marvellous abundance." 



The value of the flamingo when divested of its feathers and placed 

 on a table has been variously estimated. Some have said that shinned 

 and well cooked it is equal to almost any duck in flavour, whilst, though 

 few abuse it as fishy or nasty in any way, many have said and written 

 that the flesh is black, flavourless, and stringy. Probably, as with so 

 many ducks, it depends greatly on the bird's diet and the leno-th of 

 time it has had to recover from its migratory flight. Doubtless birds 

 just arrived, wanting food and not very particular as to what they eat 

 are tough and may acquire almost any taste : on the other hand those 

 that have had a good time to rest and gain flesh at the expense of 

 muscle are tender, and those that have lived on a good diet are also 

 well flavoured. 



