North American Birds Eggs. 



89 



LAMELLIROSTRAL GRALLATORES. 



OGLOSS/t. 



Order VI. ODONT- 



FLAMIINIGOES. Family PHCENICOPTERID/E. 

 182. American Flamingo. Phmiimpterus ruber. 



Range. — Tropit'al and subtropical America on llie Atlantic coasts, breeding 

 in the Bahamas and West Indies; north to Florida and casually to the South 

 Atlantic States. 



These remarkable and grotesque appearing birds attain a length of about 48 

 inches. The plumage varies from white to a deep rosy red. It requires several 

 years for them to attain the perfect adult plumage, and unlike most birds, they 

 are in the best of plumage during the winter, the colors becoming faded as the 

 nesting season approaches. The birds are especially noticeable because of the 

 crooked, hollow, scoop-shaped bill, and the extremely long legs and neck. The 

 feet are webbed, but more for the purpose of supporting them upon the mud 

 flats than for use in swimming. They nest in large colonies, one examined by 

 Mr. Frank M. Chapman, containing upwards of two thousand nests. The nests 

 are usually built on a sandy point of an island; they are mounds of earth, grass 

 and rubbish from one to two feet in height, the top being hollowed to receive the 

 eggs. One or two eggs are a complete set. The shell is pale blue, but this ;i8 

 covered with a heavy white chalky deposit. The eggs are laid in June and July. 

 Size 8.40 x 2.15. 



[Chalky bluish white. 1 



IBISES, STORKS, HERONS, etc. Order VII 



HERODIONES. 



The members of this order are wading birds, consequently they all have long 

 legs and necks. They have four toes, not webbed. 



SPOONBILLS. Family PLATALEID/E. 

 183. Roseate Spoonbill. Ajaja ajaja. 



Range. — Tropical America, north in summer to the Gulf States. They form- 

 erly nested in remote swamps along the whole Gulf coast, but are now confined 

 chiefly to the Everglades in Florida. 



