Ci INIUAX IUCKS. 



'lliey do not, Iiowcnct, nt Iv.i^t in this couiitrv, always ri>c in tiic >aine 

 iiianiicr. Imf both l)efore rising and after alighting vui\ forward some stej)- 

 in a most ungainly manner. 



They generally leave Northern India in M;iy or .lune. though they 

 have l)een seen in July, and the first few hirds return in the end of 

 Septemher. From Soutliern as well as froni Eastern India they migrate 

 a good deal earlier as a rule, hut they have been recorded in ( 'cylon in 

 May, and, as jnentioned above, from Taticorin in July. 



As might be ex[)ected from the very curious formation of the 

 Flamingo's bill, their mode of feeding is rathei- remarkable. Bending 

 down their long necks between their legs, and looking very mu(di like 

 bird acrobats |)re[)aring to stand on their heads, they invert their bills 

 entirely, and use them as shovels in which to catch or collect their i'ood. 

 This they obtain by moving their heads backwards and forwards, or from 

 side to side, and gently stirring up the mud. What they actually t'l'ed on 

 is not at all well known and is one of the easy [)oints still left for sportsmen 

 to clear up, as it only means the examination of the internal economy of a 

 few birds shot whilst they are in the act of feeding. ^\'e know that a 

 considerable [)art of tlieir diet is vegetarian, but they are also in all 

 probah)ility far more given to animal food than has generally been l)elieved 

 to be the case. Mr. Eaole Clarke, in his interesting aiticli- alreadv 

 referrtsd to, came to the conclusion that the Flaminj^oes inhabiting the 

 Khone Delta existed almost entirely, if not quite, on a tiny Phyllopod, the 

 brine-shrimp {Arfonla .';((Hii((), which he states is found there in 

 marvellous abundance. 



The value of the Flamingo when <li\cstetl of its feathers and placed on 

 the table has been variously estimated. Some have said that >kiiHied and 

 well cooked it is equal to almost any duck in flavour, whilst, though few 

 abuse it as fishy or nasty in any way, many have said and written that the 

 flesh is black, flavourless, and stringy. Probably, as with so many true 

 Ducks, it depends greatly on the bird's diet and the length of time it has 

 had to recover from its migratory flight. Doubtless birds just arrived, 

 wanting food, and not very particuUir as to what they eat. are tough, and 

 may acquire almost any taste. On the other hand, those that have had a 

 good time to rest and gain flesh at the expense of muscle are tender, and 

 those that have lived on a oood diet are also well-fla\-oure(|. 



