464 RED FLAMINGO. 



Cayenne,* and the coast of Brazil, as well as the various 

 islands of the West Indies. Sloane found them in Jamaica, 

 but particularly at the Bahama Islands, and that of Cuba, 

 where they breed. When seen at a distance, they appear as 

 a regiment of soldiers, being arranged alongside of one another, 

 on the borders of the rivers, searching for food, which chiefly 

 consists of small fjsh,f or the eggs of them, and of water insects, 

 which they search after by plunging in the bill and part of the 

 head ; from time to time trampling with their feet to muddy 

 the water, that their prey may be raised from the bottom. In 

 feeding, are said to twist the neck in such a manner that the 

 upper part of the bill is applied to the ground ; % during this, 

 one of them is said to stand sentinel, and the moment he 

 sounds the alarm, the whole flock take wing. This bird, when 

 at rest, stands on one leg, the other being drawn up close to 

 the body, with the head placed under the wing on that side 

 of the body it stands on. 



" The flesh of these birds is esteemed pretty good meat, and 

 the young thought by some equal to that of a partridge ; § 

 but the greatest dainty is the tongue, which was esteemed by 

 the ancients an exquisite morsel. || Are sometimes caught 

 young, and brought up tame ; but are ever impatient of cold, 

 and in this state will seldom live a great while, gradually 

 losing their colour, flesh, and appetite, and dying for want 

 of that food which, in a state of nature at large, they were 

 abundantly supplied with." 



* Called there by the name of Tococo. 



+ Small shellfish. — Gesner. % Linneeus, Brisson. 



§ Commonly fat, and accounted delicate. — Bavics' Hist, of Barbadoes, 

 p. 8S. The inhabitants of Provence always throw away the flesh, as it 

 tastes fishy, and only make use of the feathers as ornaments to other 

 birds at particular entertainments. — Billon's Travels, p. 374. 



|| See Plin. ix. cap. 48. 



