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CHARACTERS OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS 



Flamingo {Phoenicopterus roseus), like all its allies, is distinguished 

 by the prevailing red colour of the plumage, the predominant 

 shade in this case being rose-pink relieved by the black wing- 

 quills and scarlet wing-coverts. The black-tipped beak is other- 

 wise rose-coloured, as are the legs and feet. This particular 

 species ranges from the south of France and Spain eastwards 

 to Siberia and India, and southward to the Cape. 



Order 14. — Herons and Storks (Herodiones) 



The birds of this order are long-legged waders with powerful 

 wings and long strong pointed beaks. The feet are either not 



Fig. 122. — Herons and their Nests 



webbed at all or only partially so, and in the latter case the great 

 toe is always free. The order includes the groups of herons, 

 storks, and ibises. 



Herons (fig. 122). — ^ These are slenderly-built birds with 

 narrow beak, and in most cases a slender neck. The wings are 

 large but blunt-tipped, and there is a curious patch of " powder 



