196 PHCENICOPTERIDJi:. 



Order PHCENICOPTERI. i 



Fam. PHCENICOPTERID-S:. 



The Flamingoes are easily recognized by their external appearance, which would 

 at first sight suggest an aiEnity with the Herons and Storks ; they have, however, 

 a greater structural resemblance to the Anseres. But the peculiar form of the bill 

 and other anatomical characters mark them as a separate group, and they are best 

 placed as an intermediate Order between the Storks and the Ducks. There are 

 three genera recognized by Count Salvadori, of which Phcenicopteriis is found in both 

 hemispheres, Plmniconaias in Africa and India, while Phcenicoparrvs is confined to 

 South America. 



PHCENICOPTERUS. 



Phanicopterus^ Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 230 (1766) ; Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 9 (1895). 

 The characters of the genus may be briefly summed up as equivalent to those of the 

 family. One species only is found within our limits. 



1. Phoenicopterus ruber. 



Phcenicopterus ruber, Bonn. Enc. Meih. i. p. 162 ^; Boncard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 458 ' ; Baird, Brewer, 

 & Ridgw. Water-Birds N. Amer. i. p. 415 %• Stone, Pr. Acad. Philad. 1890, p. 203*; 

 A. O. U. Cbeck-1. N. Amer Birds, 2nd ed. p. 66'; Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvii. 

 p.9^ 



Scarlatino- vel miniato-ruber, alis et hypochondriis laetioribus magis coccineis, remigibas nigris : rostro auran- 

 tiaco, ad basin pallide flavo ; loris nudis flavis ; pedibus coccineis ; iride cyanea. Long, tota circa 43'0, 

 alee 15-5, candae 6-0, culm. 5'2, tarsi 13-0. (Descr. maris adulti ex Inagua, Bahamas, ilus. nostr.) 



Eab. NoETH America, Southern Florida ^ ^. — Mexjco, Rio Lagartos, Yucatan {Gaumer ^), 

 coast of Yucatan {Stone & Baker ^), Northern Yucatan (Devis ®J. — South America 

 to the Galapagos Is. and Para^; Bahama Is. 



The Eosy Flamingo occurs in large flocks in Southern Florida, and has been observed 

 in Yucatan and in the Bahama Islands. The nest is made of mud, slightly raised above 

 the level of the water. The eggs are chalky white, two in number, and of a peculiar 

 elongated form. 



