AMERICAN FLAMINGO. 259 



and it is to be observed that it always stands with its front to the 

 wind." 



An egg, presented to me by Dr Bachman, and of which two were 

 found in the nest, measures three inches and three-eighths in length, 

 two inches and one-eighth in breadth, and is thus of an elongated form. 

 The shell is thick, rather rough or granulated, and pure white exter- 

 nally, but of a bluish tint when the siuface is scraped off. 



The following description is taken from specimens sent to me by 

 Jean Chartrand, Esq. from Cuba, and preserved in spirits, together 

 with several dried skins. 



Phcenicopterus ruber, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 230. — Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. 



p. 788. — Ck. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 348. 

 Red Flamingo, Phcenicopterus ruber, Wils, Amer. Ornith. vol. viii. p. 145, 



pi. 66, fig. 4, Adult. — Ch. Bonaparte, Amer. Ornith. vol. iii. 

 American or Red Flamingo, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 71- 



Adult Male. Plate CCCCXXXI. 



Bill more than double the length of the head, straight and higher 

 than broad for half its length, then deflected and tapering to an obtuse 

 point. Upper mandible with its dorsal line straight, convex at the 

 cvirve, and again straight nearly to the end, when it becomes convex 

 at the tip ; the ridge broad and convex, on the deflected part expanded 

 into a lanceolate plate, having a shallow groove in the middle, and 

 separated from the edges by a narrow groove ; its extremity narrow, 

 and thin-edged, but obtuse, this part being analogous to the unguis of 

 ducks and other birds of that tribe. Lower mandible narrower than 

 the upper at its base, but much broader in the rest of its extent ; its 

 angle rather long, wide, and filled with bare skin ; its dorsal line con- 

 cave, but at the tip convex, the ridge deeply depressed, there being a 

 wide channel in its place, the sides nearly erect and a little convex, 

 with six ridges on each side toward the tip. The edges of the upper 

 mandible are furnished with about 150 oblique lamellas, of which the 

 external part is perpendicular, tapering, pointed, and tooth-like. The 

 edge of the lower mandible is incmrved in an extraordinary degree, 

 leaving a convex upper surface about \ inch in breadth, covered in its 

 whole extent with transverse very delicate lamellae, with an external 

 series of larger lamellae. The whole surface of the bill is covered with 

 a thickened leathery skin, which becomes horny toward the end. The 



