NATURALIST'S CABINET 



Peculiar manners Vigilance. 



kind of fixed astonishment : another and another 

 shot was discharged ; and thus the fowler often. 

 levelled almost the whole flock, before one of 

 them began to think of escaping. Experience, 

 however, taught them better ; at present it is 

 very different, for the flamingo is not only one 

 of the scarcest, but of the shyest birds in the 

 world, and the most difficult of approach. See 

 the engraving. 



They chiefly keep near the most deserted and 

 inhospitable shores; near salt-water lakes, and 

 swampy islands. They come down to the banks 

 of rivers by day ; and often retire to the inland, 

 mountainous parts of the country at the approach 

 of night. When seen by mariners in the day, 

 they always appear drawn up in a long close line 

 of two or three hundred together, like a regiment 

 of soldiers ; or, as Dampier says, they present, 

 at the distance of half a mile, the exact repre- 

 sentation of a long brick wall. Their rank, how- 

 ever, is broken when they seek for food; but 

 they always appoint one of the number as a 

 watch, whose only employment is to observe and 

 give notice of danger, while the rest are feeding. 

 As soon as this trusty sentinel perceives the re- 

 motest appearance of danger, he gives a loud 

 scream, with a voice as shrill as a trumpet, and 

 instantly the whole cohort are upon the wing. 

 They feed in silence; but, upon this occasion, 

 all the flock are in one chorus, and fill the air 

 with intolerable screams. Their food consists 



