Order ODONTOGLOSSi^;. 



Family PHCENICOPTERIDiE. 



THE FLAMINGO. 



Phoenicopterus roseus, Pallas. 

 Plate 42. 



About fifteen occurrences of this beautiful bird have been recorded in Great 

 Britain, but of this number three only appear to have been really wild birds. The 

 first was captured and killed in Staffordshire in September 1881, the second 

 shot near the Beaulieu River in Hampshire in November 1883, and the third 

 seen near New Romney, Kent, in August 1884. 



The Flamingo inhabits parts of Spain and southern France, thence eastwards 

 in Asia to Lake Baikal, and southwards to India, and is found throughout the 

 greater part of Africa. 



A most interesting account of the nesting of the Flamingo has been given by 

 Mr. Abel Chapman {Ibis, 1884, pp. 86-89), who was the first to give an accurate 

 description of the manner in which the birds disposed of their long legs when 

 sitting on the nests, which are merely circular platforms or bulwarks of mud raised 

 a little above the surface of the shallow water, and varying in height from two or 

 three inches to a couple of feet. Instead of standing astride the nest, as described 

 by the old English navigator, William Dampier, Mr. Chapman has shown that 

 the birds sit with " their long red legs doubled under their bodies, the knees pro- 

 jecting as far as beyond the tail, and their graceful necks neatly curled away 

 among their back feathers, like a sitting swan, with their heads resting on their 

 breasts." 



The Flamingo breeds in large colonies, masses of nests being often crowded 

 together in the shallow water of the lagoons. 



The two eggs, with a rather chalk-like surface, are laid towards the end of May. 

 The birds seem very partial to salt-lakes, and obtain their food of tiny crustaceans 

 by dabbling in the water, holding their heads and curiously formed bills in a 

 reversed position while sifting the mud. The gaggling voice of this species 

 resembles that of the Goose, and, like the latter bird, it adopts the same formation 

 when flying. 



The sexes do not differ in colour, but the female is smaller. The young take 

 a considerable time before assuming the pink and scarlet of the old birds. 



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