AMERICAN FLAMINGO. 173 



Male, 45-|-, 66. 



Rather rare, and only during summer in the Florida Keys, and the 

 western coast of Florida. Accidental as far as South Carolina. Constantly 

 resident in Cuba. 



Adult Male. 



Bill more than double the length of the head, straight and higher than 

 broad for half its length, then deflected and tapering to an obtuse point. 

 Upper mandible with its dorsal line straight, convex at the curve, and again 

 straight nearly to the end, when it becomes convex at the tip; the ridge 

 broad and convex, on the deflected part expanded into a lanceolate plate, 

 having a shallow groove in the middle, and separated from the edges by a 

 narrow groove; its extremity narrow, and thin-edged, but obtuse, this part 

 being analogous to the unguis of Ducks and other birds of that tribe. Lower 

 mandible narrower than the upper at its base, but much broader in the rest 

 of its extent; its angle rather long, wide, and filled with bare skin; its 

 dorsal line concave, but at the tip convex, the ridge deeply depressed, there 

 being a wide channel in its place, the sides nearly erect and a little convex, 

 with six ridges on each side toward the tip. The edges of the upper man- 

 dible are furnished with about 150 oblique lamellae, of which the external 

 part is perpendicular, tapering, pointed, and tooth-like. The edge of the 

 lower mandible is incurved in an extraordinary degree, leaving a convex 

 upper surface about -J inch in breadth, covered in its whole extent with 

 transverse very delicate lamellae, with an external series of larger lamellae. 

 The whole surface of the bill is covered with a thickened leathery skin, 

 which becomes horny toward the end. The nostrils are linear, direct, sub- 

 basal, nearer the margin than the ridge, operculate, 14 inches long. 



Head small, ovate; neck extremely elongated, and very slender, body 

 slender. Legs extremely long; the bare part of the tibia 9-£ inches, with 30 

 very broad scutella before, and about 40 behind, the scutella both here and 

 on the tarsus almost meeting so as scarcely to leave any interspace. Tarsus 

 extremely long, slender, its anterior scutella 54, posterior 65. Hind toe 

 very small^erith 3 large scutella, its claw oblong, depressed, obtuse; it is 5 

 twelfths of an inch shorter than the outer, which is also 5 twelfths shorter 

 than the middle toe. The webs are anteriorly emarginate and crenate; they 

 are very thick, rugous, and reticulated, especially on the sole; the lower 

 surface of the toes is tesselated with squarish, flattish, thickened scales, 

 resembling mosaic work, and the upper surface is covered with numerous 

 broad, but short scutella. The claws are oblong, obtuse, depressed, and very 

 similar to those of a monkey. 



The space between the bill and the eye is bare. The plumage is gene- 

 rally compact, the feathers rounded; those on the neck short. Wings long, 



