40 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



only in the most southern districts of the country. On the 

 coast of Florida, and in the Gulf of Mexico, it is frequently 

 seen, but not in numbers equal to those that congregate on 

 the West India islands, and particularly the shores and 

 lagoons, bordering the Caribean Sea. 



The specimen from which the annexed drawing was 

 made, belongs to the Philadelphia Museum, and is one of 

 the most perfect of its kind. This was shot by Mr. T. R. 

 Peale, on the sea-shore of Colombia, during his late visit 

 to that country, but owing to the great shyness of these 

 birds, he was unable to procure more than the one specimen, 

 although, he said, several hundreds associated together; but 

 the parts they resort to were so difficult of access, and the 

 timidity of the birds so great, rendered it impossible, with- 

 out too great exertion, to be more successful. This bird was 

 shot at night time by the aid of lightning, and secured only 

 on the following day. 



American Naturalists have not been able to furnish any- 

 thing new relative to this remarkable bird, and among 

 foreign authors, Dr. Latham, in his Synopsis, has given 

 the most authentic and interesting particulars, which are 

 here introduced. 



" This remarkable bird has the neck and legs in a greater 

 disproportion than any other bird; the length from the end 

 of the bill to that of the tail is four feet two or three inches, 

 but to the end of the claws, measures sometimes more than 

 six feet. The bill is four inches and a quarter long, and of 

 a construction different from that of any other bird; the 

 upper mandible very thin and flat, and somewhat move- 

 able; the under thick, both of them bending downwards 

 from the middle; the nostrils are linear, and placed in a 

 blackish membrane; the end of the bill as far as the bend 

 is black, from thence to the base reddish yellow, round 

 the base quite to the eye covered with a flesh coloured 

 cere; the neck is slender, and of a great length; the tongue 

 large, fleshy, filling the cavity of the bill, furnished with 

 twelve or more hooked papillae on each side, turning back- 

 wards; the tip a sharp cartilaginous substance. The bird 

 when in full plumage is wholly of a most deep scarlet, 

 (those of Africa said to be the deepest) except the quills, 

 which are black; from the base of the thigh to the claws 

 measures thirty-two inches, of which the feathered part 

 takes up no more than three inches; the bare part above 

 the knee thirteen inches, and from thence to the claws 

 sixteen; the colour of the bare parts is red, and the toes 

 are furnished with a web as in the duck genus; but it is 

 deeply indented. The legs are not straight, but slightly 

 bent, the shin rather projecting. 



" These birds do not gain their full plumage till the 

 third year. In the first they are of a grayish white for the 

 most part; the second of a clearer white, tinged with red, 



or rather rose colour; but the wings and scapulars are red; 

 in the third year a general glowing scarlet manifests itself 

 throughout; the bill and legs also keep pace with the gra- 

 dation of colour in the plumage, these parts changing to 

 their colours by degrees as the bird approaches to an adult 

 state. 



" Flamingoes prefer a warm climate, in the old conti- 

 nent not often met with beyond forty degrees north or 

 south. Every where seen on the African coast, and adja- 

 cent isles, quite to the Cape of Good Hope, and now and 

 then on the coasts of Spain, Italy, and those of France 

 lying in the Mediterranean sea; being at times met with 

 at Marseilles, and for some way up the Rhone. In some 

 seasons frequents Aleppo, and parts adjacent. Seen also 

 on the Persian side of the Caspian sea, and from thence 

 along the western coast as far as the Wolga; though this at 

 uncertain times, and chiefly in considerable flocks, coming 

 from the north coast mostly in October and November; but 

 so soon as the wind changes they totally disappear. They 

 breed in the Cape Verd isles, particularly in that of Sal. 

 The nest is of a singular construction, made of mud, in shape 

 of a hillock, with a cavity at top; in this the female lays ge- 

 nerally two white eggs,* of the size of those of a goose, but 



more elongated. 



The hillock is of such an height as to 



admit of the bird's sitting on it conveniently, or rather 

 standing, as the legs are placed one on each side at full 

 length.! The young cannot fly till full grown, but run very 

 fast. 



" Flamingoes, for the most part, keep together in flocks; 

 and now and then are seen in great numbers together, ex- 

 cept in breeding time. Dampier mentions having, with 

 two more in company, killed fourteen at once; but this 

 was effected by secreting themselves; for they are very 

 shy birds, and will by no means suffer any one to approach 

 openly near enough to shoot them.f Kolben observes 

 that they are very numerous at the Cape, keeping in the 

 day on the borders of the lakes and rivers, and lodging 

 themselves of nights in the long grass on the hills. They 

 are also common to various places in the warmer parts of 

 America, frequenting the same latitudes as in other quar- 

 ters of the world; being met with in Peru, Chili, Cayenne,§ 

 and the coast of Brazil, as well as the various islands of 

 the West Indies. Sloane found them in Jamaica; but par- 

 ticularly at the Bahama islands, and that of Cuba, where 



* They never lay more than three, and seldom fewer. Phil. Trans. 



\ Sometimes will lay the eggs on a projecting part of a low rock, if it be 

 placed sufficiently convenient so as to admit of the legs being placed one on 

 each side. Linn. 



+ Davies talks of the gunner disguising himself in an ox hide, and by this 

 means getting within gun-shot. Hist. Barbad. p. 88. 



§ Called there by the name of Tococo. 



