66 Mr. C. J. Andersson on the two Flamingoes of South Africa. 



bordered by blacky which is shaded off into a light hoi-n-colour 

 towards the extremities of the mandibles. The general ground- 

 colour of the whole plumage is white, overlaid, as it were, with 

 a delicate transparent tint of the purest scarlet, passing into 

 rose-colour or delicate crimson on the lower parts. This deeper 

 hue is arranged in semi-oval patches, generally occupying the 

 exposed part of the feathers, and being most decided towards 

 their extremities, leaving a border of about a line in breadth 

 of a paler tint, which sometimes approaches to white. The 

 plumage has, in consequence of this arrangement of colour, the 

 appearance of being plated or mailed. The under wing-coverts 

 are pinkish red ; and the long inside feathers at the third joint 

 of the wing are deep red, paling off at the outer edges to a 

 scarlet-white. The inside of the primary and secondary quills 

 is of a faint reddish brown ; the legs and toes are crimson- 

 scarlet; the nails brownish black, shading into light horn- 

 colour at the edges. 



At a little distance, and with the light full upon it, this bird 

 has a most beautiful appearance; indeed it is a perfect gem 

 amongst the feathered tribes. 



The following Table will show the comparative dimensions of 

 the two species, though I think that P. erythrcBus varies in size 

 a good deal. 



Entire length 



Wings when folded 



Tarsus 



Middle toe 



Tibia 



Tail, measured from the small 



oil-gland on the rump 



Bill, measured along the curve 



of the upper mandible 



[Mr. Andersson's notes were accompanied by drawings, by 

 Mr. Baines, from which it would appear that, in the adults of 

 both species, and likewise in the immature stages of P. ery- 

 thrceus, the bare skin between the bill and the eye is of the 

 same colour with the base of the bill ; also that the irides in 

 both species are orange. — J. H. G.] 



