FLAMINGO. 301 



thefe parts changing to their colours by degrees, as the bird ap- 

 proaches to an adult ftate. 



Flamingoes prefer a warm climate: in the old continent not Place and 

 often met with beyond 40 degrees north or fouth. Every where 

 ken on the African coaft and adjacent ides, quite to the Cape of 

 Good Hope * ; and now and then on the coafts of Spain |, Italy, 

 and thofe of France lying in the Mediterranean Sea ■, being at 

 times met with at Marfeilles, and for fome way up the Rhone. 

 In fome feafons frequent Aleppo % and parts adjacent. Seen alfo 

 on the Per/tan fide of the Cafpian Sea, and from thence along the 

 weftern coaft, as far as the Wolga •, though this at uncertain times, 

 and chiefly in confiderable flocks, coming from the north-eaft, 

 moftly in Otlober and November -, but fo foon as the wind changes 

 they totally difappear §. They breed in the Cape Verd ifles, par- 

 ticularly in that of Sal ||. The neft is of a Angular conftruclion, 

 made of mud, in fhape of an hillock, with a cavity at top; in this 

 the female lays generally two white eggs**, of the fize of thofe 

 of a Cocfe, but more elongated. The hillock is of fuch an height 

 as to admit of the bird's fitting on it conveniently, or rather 

 ftanding, as the legs are placed one on each fide at full length ff. 

 The young cannot fly till full grown, but run very faft. 



* In Zee Cooiv river. — Phil. Tranf. Once plenty in the IJle of France. — Foy, 



to Mauritius, p. 66. 



+ About Falencia, in the lake A'bufere. — Billon Trau. p. 374. 



\ Ruff. Alep. p. 69. § Decouv. Ruff. ii. p. 248. 



|| Damp. Foy. i. p. 70. 



** They never lay more than three, and seldom fewer. — Phil. Tranf. 



ft Sometimes will lay the eggs on a projecting part of a low rock, if it be 

 placed fufficientiy convenient fo as to admit of the legs being placed one on each 

 fide. — Linn. * 



Flamingoes 



