RED FLAMINGO. 565 
back, was evidently worn by this habit. The same is equally observa- 
ble'on the neck and back of the Wood Ibis. « 
The present species rarely exterids its visits north of Carolina, and, 
even in that state, is only seen for a few weeks towards the end of 
summer. In Florida, they are common, but seldom remove to any 
great distance from the sea. : 
RED FLAMINGO. — PHCENICOPTERUS RUBER. — Fie. 267. 
Le Flamant, Briss. vi. p. 532, pl. 47, fig..1. — Buff. viii. p. 475, pl. 39. Pl. enl. 
63. — Lath. Syn. iii. p. 299, pl. 93. — Arct. Zool. No. 439, ‘atesby, i. pl. 73, 
14. — Peale’s Museum, No. 3545, bird of the first year; No. 3546, bird of the 
second year. ; D ; 
PH@NICOPTERUS RUBER. — Linn xvs. 
Pheenicopterus ruber, Bonap. Synop. p. 348. 
Tus very singular species, being occasionally seen on the southern 
frontiers of the United States, and on the Peninsula of East Florida, 
where it is more common, has a claim to a niche in our Ornithological 
Museum, although the author regrets that, from personal observation, 
he can add nothing to the particulars of its history, already fully de- 
tailed in various European works. From the most respectable of 
these, the Synopsis of Dr. Latham, he has collected such particulars 
as appear authentic and interesting. 
«This remarkable bird has the neck and legs in a greater dispro- 
portion than any other bird; the length, from the end of the bill to 
that of the tail, is four feet two or three inches; but to the end of the 
claws, measures sometimes more than six feet. The bill is four inches 
and a quarter long, and of a construction different from that of any 
other bird; the upper mandible, very thin and flat, and somewhat 
_ movable; the under, thick; both of them bending downwards from 
the middle ; the nostrils are linear, and placed in a blackish mem- 
brane; the end of the bill, as far as the bend, is black; from thence to 
the base, reddish yellow; round the base, quite to the eye, covered 
with a flésh colored cere; the neck is slender, and of a great length ; 
the tongue, large, fleshy, filling the cavity of the bill, fumished with 
twelve or more hooked papille on each side, turning backwards; the 
tip, a sharp, cartilaginous substance. The bird, when in full plumage, 
is wholly of a most deep scarlet, (those of Africa said to be the deep- 
est,) except the quills, which are black; from the base of the thigh to 
the claws, measures thirty-two inches, of which the feathered part 
takes up no more than three inches; the bare part above the knee, 
thirteen inches; and from thence to the claws, sixteen; the color of 
the bare parts is red; and the toes are furnished with a web, as in the 
Duck genus, but is deeply indented. The legs are not straight, but 
‘slightly bent, the shin rather projecting. 
48 
