174 AMERICAN FLAMINGO. 



very broad, pointed; the first primary half a twelfth of an inch shorter than 

 the second, which is longest, and exceeds the third by one-twelfth; some of 

 the inner secondaries much elongated, tapering, and extending five or six 

 inches beyond the first primary when the wing is closed. Tail very short. 



Bill black beyond the curve, then orange, and towards the base pure 

 yellow, of which colour also is the bare skin at its base. Iris blue*. Feet 

 lake-colour. The plumage is of a very rich pure scarlet, excepting the ten 

 primaries, and twenty of the secondaries, which are black, the inner ten 

 elongated secondaries being scarlet. 



Length to carpal joint 27f inches, to end of wing 44, to end of tail 45^, to 

 end of claws 62^; extent of wings 66; bare part of tibia 9; tarsus 13|-; 

 middle toe and claw 3-f; hind toe and claw ^; spread of foot from outer to 

 inner claw 5; wing from flexure 16; tail 6; circumference of body 24. 

 Weight 7 lbs. 8 oz. 



The Female is similar to the male, but much smaller; its weight 6 lbs. 

 4 oz. 



A male preserved in spirits. On the roof of the mouth is a large promi- 

 nent median ridge, which toward the end has two sharp edges; the sides 

 concave and covered with lamella?. The lower mandible is deeply and 

 widely grooved, forming a cavity 1 inch in depth at the curvature, the tip 

 narrowed but obtuse, and with a flattened broadly ovate surface above. The 

 tongue, which lies in this deep groove, by which it is confined so as to be 

 capable of little motion, is a fleshy, somewhat compressed, decurved body, 

 2 inches 2 twelfths long, measured along its upper median line, having at its 

 base on each side three series of very pointed papillae, and on each side about 

 20 conical recurved, horny, acuminate papillae, about \ inch in length; 

 between which is a narrow median groove. These papillae terminate at the 

 curvature, beyond which is a lanceolate flattened horny surface, with a thin 

 elevated margin, the organ at that part tapering to an obtuse point, horny on 

 its lower surface. The nostrils are 1^ inches long; the aperture of the ear 

 very small, 2\ twelfths in diameter, that of the eye 4^ twelfths. In this 

 specimen the whole of the thoracic and abdominal viscera have been 

 removed. 



The trachea, which is narrow, little flattened, and with its rings firm, 

 passes down in front of the vertebrae to the distance of 12 inches, and is 

 then deflected to the right side for 1 1 inches more. The diameter at the 

 upper part is 4j twelfths, and it gradually enlarges to 5-|- twelfths; at the 

 lower part of the neck its greatest breadth is 7 twelfths. It then passes 

 over the vertebrae, continuing of the same breadth, enters the thorax, con- 

 tracts at its lower part and is compressed, its diameter being 4 twelfths. 



