RED FLAMINGO. 463 



nean Sea, being at times met with at Marseilles, and for 

 some way up the Rhone ; in some seasons frequent Aleppo * 

 and parts adjacent ; seen also on the Persian side of the Cas- 

 pian Sea, and from thence along the western coast as far as 

 the Wolga, though this at uncertain times, and chiefly in 

 considerable flocks, coming from the north coast mostly in 

 October and November, but so soon as the wind changes, 

 they totally disappear, f They breed in the Cape Verd Isles, 

 particularly in that of Sal. % The nest is of a singular con- 

 struction, made of mud, in shape of a hillock, with a cavity at 

 top ; in this the female lays generally two white eggs, § of the 

 size of those of a goose, but more elongated. The hillock 

 is of such a height as to admit of the bird's sitting on it 

 conveniently, or rather standing, as the legs are placed one 

 on each side at full length. || The young cannot fly till full 

 grown, but run very fast. 



" Flamingoes, for the most part, keep together in flocks, 

 and now and then are seen in great numbers together, except 

 in breeding time. Dampier mentions having, with two more 

 in company, killed fourteen at once ; but this was effected by 

 secreting themselves, for they are very shy birds, and will by 

 no means suffer any one to approach openly near enough to 

 shoot them.f Kolben observes that they are very numerous 

 at the Cape, keeping in the day on the borders of the lakes 

 and rivers, and lodging themselves of nights in the long grass 

 on the hills. They are also common to various places in the 

 warmer parts of America, frequenting the same latitudes as 

 in other quarters of the world ; being met with in Peru, Chili, 



* Eussel's Aleppo, p. 69. 



•j- Decouv. Russ. ii. p. 24. 



X Dampier's Voy. i. p. 70. 



§ They never lay more than three, and seldom fewer. — Phil. Trans. 



|| Sometimes will lay the eggs on a projecting part of a low rock, if 

 it be placed sufficiently convenient so as to admit of the legs being placed 

 one on each side. — Linnceus. 



U Davies talks of the gunner disguising himself in an ox-hide, and, 

 by this means, getting within gunshot. — Hist, of £arbadoes } p. 88. 



