RED FLAMINGO. 27 



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, except 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, fre- 

 quenting the same latitudes as in other quarters of the world ; being 

 met with in Peru, Chili, Cayenne, J and the coast of Brazil, as well as 

 the various islands of the West Indies. Sloane found them in Jamaica ; 

 but particularly at the Bahama Islands, and that of Cuba, where they 

 breed. When seen at a distance they appear as a regiment of soldiers, 

 being arranged alongside of one another, on the borders of the rivers, 

 searching for food, which chiefly consists of small fish,§ or the eggs of 

 them, and of water iiisects, which they search after by plunging in the 

 bill and part of the head ; from time to time trampling with their feet 

 to muddy the water, that their prey may be raised from the bottom. In 

 feeding are said to twist the neck in such a manner that the upper part 

 of the bill is applied to the ground ;|| during this one of them is said to 

 stand sentinel, and the moment he sounds the alarm, the whole flock take 

 wing. This bird when at rest stands on one leg, the other being drawn 

 up close to the body, with the head placed ninder the wing on that side 

 of the body it stands on. 



" The flesh of these birds is esteemed, pretty good meat ; and the 

 young thought by some equal to that of a Partrid'ge ; Tf but the greatest 

 dainty is the tongue, which was esteemed by the ancients an exquisite 

 morsel.** Are sometimes caught young and brought up tame ; but are 

 ever impatient of cold, and in this state will seldom live a great while, 

 gradually losing their color, flesh and appetite ; and dying for want of 



* Sometimes will lay the eggs on a projecting part of a low rook, if it be placed 

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

 Linn. 



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

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



t Called there by the name of Tococo. g Small shell fish. Gesner. 



II Linnaeus. Brisson. 



f Commonly fat and accounted delicate. Davies's Hist. Barbad. p. 88. The 

 inhabitants of Provence always throw away the flesh, as it tastes fishy, and only 

 make use of the feathers as ornaments to other birds at particular entertainments. 

 Dillon's Trav. p. 374. 



** See Plin. IX., cap. 48. 



