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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



YOUNG FLAMINGO EATING SHEW, OF THE EGG FROM WHICH IT WAS HATCHED 



"The young stay in the nest until they are three or four days old. During this time they 

 are brooded by the parents, one or the other of which is always in attendance. With a bill 

 as large as their nestling's body, it was of special interest to observe how the latter would be 

 fed. The operation is admirably shown on the opposite page. What in effect is regurgitated 

 clam broth, is taken drop by drop from the tip of the parent's bill. This is the young bird's 

 first meal. His next attempts at eating are of special interest. It will be observed that the 

 bill in a newly hatched flamingo bears small resemblance to the singular, decurved organ of 

 the adult. In the chick the bill is short and straight, with no hint of future curvature; and at 

 this stage of its existence the bird feeds in a manner wholly unlike that employed by the old 

 birds. It picks up its food. The second meal, then, consists of bits of the egg-shell whence 

 the chick has lately emerged. When the bird is about three weeks old the bill first shows 

 signs of convexity, and the bird now feeds after the singular manner of the adult, standing- 

 on its head, as it were, the maxilla, or upper half of the bill, being nearlv parallel with the 

 ground. Contrary to the rule among birds, the lower portion of the bill is immovable, but the 

 upper portion, moving rapidly, forces little jets of water from each side of the base of the 

 bill, washing out the sand and the mud through the strainers with which the sides of the 

 bill are beset, and leaving the shells on which the bird subsists. Or, as Peter expressed it: 

 'It seems to me, sir, when de fillvminsD feed dat de uoper lip do all de wuk, sir, when he 

 chomp, chomp, chomp, and grabble in de mud.' " — Frank M. Chapman. 



