NARRATIVE OF AN 



a fcarlet crefl and fmall pearls (like thofe of the Mufcov^ 

 duck) feparating the bill from the eyes ; they are always 

 feen in pairs, and when they fly produce an agreeable 

 whirling from their throats. The fpur- winged water- 

 hen, on account of its great beauty, reminded me of 

 another fine bird I lately faw upon one of the neighbour- 

 ing eftates, but which I had forgotten to mention : this 

 was the Guiana curlew, here called flamingo^ from its 

 great refemblance to the famous bird of that name, feen 

 in Canada and many parts of North and South America, 

 and which is fuppofed to be of the crane kind, with its 

 body as large as that of an European fwan. This bird^ 

 however, is only the fize of a fmall heron ; it has no 

 tail , but a very long neck, and long limbs, with four toes t 

 the head is fmall, and the bill alfo long, round, and 

 arched. The flamingo lays always two eggs, which,, 

 when hatched, the chickens appear black, next grey, 

 then white, as they come nearer maturity ; and, finally, 

 the whole bird becomes a bright fcarlet or crimfon, fome 

 not lighter than the colour of blood. They live in fo- 

 ciety like the florks, and moftly on the banks of rivers, 

 or near the fea, where they are feen in fuch amazing 

 flocks, that the fands feem dyed with vermilion ; thefe 

 birds, when young, are accounted very good eating, and 

 are fo tame, that on the plantations they are frequently 

 feen walking and feeding among the poultry, though 

 filh and animal food they generally prefer. 



Thus 



