152 WILD FOWL OF INDIA. 



without more information, I shall consider them to be females of 

 the common species.* 



The Flamingo is found, here and there, throughout India, is very 

 rare in some parts, and is perhaps chiefly found not far from the sea- 

 coast. It is very abundant near Madras, in the Pulicat lake ; also 

 between Madras and Pondicherry, and south towards Tuticoreen ; 

 it is also met with in the Northern Circars, at the great Chilka lake, 

 south of Cuttack, and occasionally near the mouth of the Hooghly 

 and some of the Soonderbun rivers. In Central India and the 

 Peccan, flocks generally visit some of the larger tanks during the 

 cold weather, and they are also now and then met with in Northern 

 India. Adams states that they are not uncommon on the Punjab 

 rivers and lakes, during the cold weather. 



The Flamingo appears to be found throughout the south of 

 Europe, Africa, and great part of Asia. It feeds on minute molluscs, 

 small insects and Crustacea, worms, &c, which it scoops up by its 

 inverted bill together with the soft mud from the bottom of lakes, 

 salt water lagoons, &c, subsequently rejecting the inorganic matter 

 with the water through the laminae of its bill ; I have however 

 generally found some mud in the stomachs of those that I have 

 examined. It also eats confervge, and other soft vegetable matter, 

 and, in confinement, will eat bran mixed with water, boiled rice, &c. 



It is said to form a large conical nest of mud, or mud and grass, 

 and to sit astride on the top of it. A late writer, however, states 

 that it lays its eggs on any slight elevation in swamps, generally 

 on a narrow path between two ditches, and that many nests are 

 placed together in a line. The eggs are two in number, dull white 

 and with a very rough chalky surface. Flamingoes do not, that I 

 am aware of, nidificate in this country. 



Flamingoes are very wary birds ; during the heat of the day they 

 rest in the water, drawn up in long lines, with sentinels on either 

 side which give warning of danger by a trumpet-like call, something 



* M. Vcrreaux has characterized a small race from Africa as P. erythraus. It 

 resembles the present species, but is smaller ; the tarsus only 10| inches; the wing 

 1 44-, and the head and neck are aurora red. It is probable that this species, if 

 distinct, may occasionally visit Western India, and perhaps be my small Flamingo, 

 Cat. 374. 



