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HE ORNITHOLOGIST 



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The Flamingo. 



The Flamingo is a species of birds 

 which until recently was placed by 

 naturalists among the grallatores, 

 (waders), but is now generally rank- 

 ed among the palmipedes, (swim- 

 mers). The bill is large, deeper 

 than broad and suddenly curves 

 downwards near the centre, so that 

 when the bird seeks its food, either 

 in the water or mud, it makes use of 

 the bill in a reversed position, the 

 upper mandible being below. The 

 upper surface of the tongue is furn- 

 ished on both sides and at the base 

 with numerous small, flexible horny 

 spines, directed backwards. They 

 seldom make use of their webbed 

 feet for swimming, to which the 

 length of the'r legs is 'not well 

 adapted, the use of the membrane 

 being rather to support them on soft 

 muddy bottoms. 



The Flamingo, as its name implies, 

 is of a deep red color, which is very 

 handsome. The bill towards the end 

 is black, the remainder being yellow. 

 The quill feathers are also black, but 

 all other parts of the bird are scar- 

 let-red. 



The body of the Flamingo is not 

 larger than that of a goose, but is 

 elevated on a pair of red legs nearly 

 three feet into the air, while 

 the neck is long enough to reach the 

 ground very easily. They feed on 

 small fish and water insects, and 

 when feeding keep their feet almost 

 constantly in motion, in order to 

 stirt their prey. 



The nest of this bird is singular- 

 ly constructed, being formed of mud 

 in the shape of a little hill, with a 

 cavity at the top. This hill is so 

 high that when the bird is sitting on 



the nest her legs fall down over the 

 side, instead of being placed under 

 her, like other birds. In this man- 

 ner she sits with her legs at full 

 length on one side of the nest. 



The Flamingo inhabits the shallow 

 waters or salt marshes of tropical 

 countries, chiefly those of Asia and 

 Africa, or on the banks of rivers or 

 inland lakes, and by their large size 

 and rich colors make a brilliant 

 spectacle. The American Flamingo 

 is more of an orange tint and is 

 abundant on many parts of the east- 

 ern and western coasts of America. 



OUR PREMIUM LIST. 



To every person sending us 35 

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 The Ornithologist we will send 

 any one, or any group of the first 

 class side blown eggs. 



1. One egg of Cala. Thrasher 



2. " " " " Brown Towhee 



3. " " " Cactus Wren 



.40 

 .25 

 .50 

 u u " West Wood Pewee .40 



" Kildeer Plover 

 each of 11 and 149 a 

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" '.' 264 " 278 

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3D 



28 

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9. " " " '.' 264 " 278 .28 



10. " " " " 482 " 460 .30 

 To the person sending us the 



largest list of subscribers before 

 December, 1st, 1885, we will present 

 a collection of rare eggs, in sets 

 with data. $10.00 



2nd, and 3rd, same as first, 10.00 

 4th," Our Birds in their Haunts, 3.00 

 5th, Cyclopedia of Expression, 1.00 

 6th, Mantons Taxidermy, .50 



7th, The Oolgist Handbook, .25 



8th, 9th, Davis & Baker's Oolo- 



gists Directory, 60 



10th, Minerals, " .25 



