RED FLAMINGO. 46 : 



limbs of trees and on the shore resting on one leg, their body- 

 in an almost perpendicular position, as represented in the 

 figure, the head and bill resting on the breast. This appears 

 to be its most common mode of resting, and perhaps sleeping, 

 as, in all those which I examined, the plumage on the upper 

 ridge of the neck and upper part of the back was evidently- 

 worn by this habit. The same is equally observable on the 

 neck and back of the wood ibis. 



The present species rarely extends its visits north of Caro- 

 lina, and even in that State is only seen for a few weeks to- 

 wards the end of summer. In Florida they are common, but 

 seldom remove to any great distance from the sea. 



EED FLAMINGO. {Phoenicopterus ruber) 



PLATE LXVI.— Fig. 4. 



Le Flamant, Briss. vi. p. 532, pi. 47, fig. I.— Buff. viii. p. 475, pi. 39, PL enl. 

 6'6.—Lath. Syn. iii. p. 299, pi. 93.— Arct. Zool. No. 422.— Catesby, i. pi. 73, 

 74. — Peale's Museum, No. 3545, bird of the first year ; No. 3546, bird of the 

 second year. 



PHOENICOPTERUS RUBER.— Linn;eus. 



Phoenicopterus ruber, Bonap. Synop. p. 348. 



This very singular species, being occasionally seen on the 

 southern frontiers of the United States and on the peninsula 

 of East Florida, where it is more common, has a claim to a 

 niche in our ornithological museum, although the author re- 

 grets that, from personal observation, he can add nothing to 

 the particulars of its history already fully detailed in various 

 European works. From the most respectable of these, the 

 "Synopsis" of Dr Latham, he has collected such particulars as 

 appear authentic and interesting. 



" This remarkable bird has the neck and legs in a greater 

 disproportion than any other bird ; the length from the end of 

 the bill to that of the tail is four feet two or three inches ; but 

 to the end of the claws, measures sometimes more than six 

 feet. The bill is four inches and a quarter long, and of a con- 



