544 CLASS AVES. 



purpose of fishing, and even preserve this figure when they 

 repose upon the strand. They are accustomed to establish 

 sentinels for the common safety ; and, whether they repose 

 or fish, one of them always stands as a videt, with his head 

 erect. If any thing alarms him, he sends forth a cry like 

 the sound of a trumpet. The flock immediately sets off, and 

 observes in its flight a similar order to that of the cranes. 

 Some travellers, however, assert that the flamingos are so 

 stupified by a surprise, that they leave the hunter an oppor- 

 tunity of laying them all prostrate. 



These birds, in general, nestle on inundated coasts and 

 low islands. Their mode of sitting is described in the text. 

 The eggs are white, about the size of those of a goose, but 

 more elongated. The young cannot fly until they are covered 

 with all their feathers, but run with facility a few days after 

 their birth. 



The ancients held the flesh of the flamingo in high esti- 

 mation, and the tongue was especially regarded as an exqui- 

 site morsel ; but such of the moderns as have tasted it, de- 

 clare it to be oily, and of an unpleasant marshy flavour. 



Attempts have been made to domesticate the flamingo, 

 but in our climates it languishes and soon dies. Peiresc, 

 who had one in his possession, remarked that it steeped in 

 water the bread which was presented to it ; that it ate more 

 frequently during night than day ; and that, very sensible to 

 the cold, it would approach the fire so nearly as to burn its 

 feet. When it slept, it drew one leg under the belly ; and 

 when deprived of the use of one limb, it walked with the 

 other, and used its bill like a crutch. 



The down of the flamingo is apportioned to the same uses 

 as that of the swan. The Indians make bonnets, &c. of the 

 feathers. The Sardinians fabricate a flute with the bone of 

 the leg, the tone of which is said to be very fine. 



