222 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



of neck, less black and buff, browner and finely freckled upper- 

 parts. 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds in marshes, among rank vegetation. 

 Nest. — Flat, usually of broken canes and reeds. Eggs. — 4-6, rarely 

 7, like European species but smaller. Average of 30 eggs, 49.7 x 

 37.5. Max.: 54.5x36.3 and 48x39.2. Min. : 47.5x38.7 and 

 49x35.3 mm. Breeding -season. — Usually May. Incubation. — No 

 details. Single-brooded. 



Food. — Probably as varied as that of European species ; includes 

 small mammals (mice, etc.), snakes, frogs, lizards, crustaceans 

 (crawfish, etc.), fish, insects, etc. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Very rare vagrant. England and 

 Wales. — About eighteen : Scilly Isles (1), Cornwall (2), Devon (2), 

 Dorset (1), Hants. (2), Sussex (3), Kent (2), Yorks. (2), Lanes. (1), 

 Anglesey (1), and Pembroke (1). Scotland. — Seven : Dumfries. (2), 

 Ayr., Argyll., Aberdeen, Elgin, Caithness. Ireland. — Fifteen : 

 Munster (6), Leinster (6), Ulster (3). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — N. America, in winter to Guatemala and 

 W. Indies. Accidental Greenland, Iceland, Channel Isles, Canaries 

 and Azores. 



[Note. — A specimen of the Green Heron, Butorides virescens virescens 

 (L.), inhabiting eastern North America and wintering from West Indies south- 

 wards, is said to have been shot in Cornwall, Oct., 1889 (Saunders, p. 386).] 



Order PHCENICOPTERI. 



The Flamingos, also called Odontoglossce. At once recognized 

 by enormously long and slender legs and remarkable bill, abruptly 

 bent in middle and both mandibles with fine transverse lamellae like 

 Ducks'. Tarsus broadly scutate, tibia mostly bare, front toes con- 

 nected with complete incised webs. Hind-toe very small or absent. 

 Palate desmognathous as in Gressores. Slit-like nostrils pervious. 

 Tongue very thick, fleshy. Lores bare. Body-plumage close and 

 hard, with much under -down as in Anseres, with after shafts. 

 Rectrices 12-16. Very gregarious. Four species, one in several 

 subspecies, Old and New World. Eggs white, chalky, unspotted. 



Family PH(ENICOPTERID,E. 

 Sole family of Order. Characters those of Order. 



Genus PHCENICOPTERUS L. 



Phgenicopterus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 139 (1758 — Monotype : 

 P. ruber). 



If restricted to contain only Ph. ruber with its subspecies 

 Ph. ruber antiquorum and chilensis characterized by broad upper 

 mandible which closes on lamellae of lower one (in Phmniconaias 



