428 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [Novfmber,- 



The weather in November had been, for the firft and middle parts, 

 very un fettled, blowing hard at times, with much rain. On one day 

 there fell a mower of hail, the ftones of which were each as large as 

 a lark's egg. The latter part of the month was fair, and favourable 

 for reaping the grain. 



by an irregular furface in the place of fangs. When cut through, which is readily done by a 

 knife, the internal firucture is fibrous like the human nails. The direction of the fibres is from 

 the crown downwards. 



Between the cheek and the jaw, on each fide of the mouth, there is a pouch, as in the monkey 

 tribe, lined with a c'utiVe. When laid open, it is \\ inch long, and the fame in breadth. In 

 the female it contained a concreted fubftance, the fize of a very fmall nut, one in each pouch : 

 this when, examined through the microfcope, was found to be made up of very fmall portions of 

 broken cryftals. 



Befides thefe grinding teeth, there are two fmall pointed horny teeth upon the projecting part 

 of the pofterior portion of the tongue, the points of which are directed forwards, feemingly to 

 prevent the food from being pufhed into the fauces during the procefs of maftication ; which cir- 

 cumftance Mr. Home thinks peculiar to this animal: in the tongue of the Flamingo there is a 

 row of fliort teeth on each fide, but not in any other bird that he has feen. 



The fore legs are fhort, and the web, which is very broad, is continued beyond the points of 

 the toes nearly an inch. On each toe there is a rounded ftraight nail, which lies loofe upon the 

 membrane forming the web. 



The hind legs are nearly of the fame length as the fore legs, but ftronger. Each foot has five 

 toes with curved claws, and webbed ; but the web does not extend beyond the points of the toes. 



In the male, jufl at the fetting on of the heel, there is a ftrong crooked fpur, half an inch long, 

 with a (harp point, which has a joint between it and the foot, and is capable of motion in twc* 

 directions. When the point of it is brought clofe to the leg, the fpur is almoft completely con- 

 cealed among the hair ; when directed outwards, it projects confideiably, and is very confpicuous. 



Mr. Home proceeds to defcribe the internal parts of this uncommon animal ; but ttVfe, as 

 we think they would be uninterefting to the generality of our readers, we decline giving ; referring* 

 thofe lovers of natural hiftory, who wifh for a more minute detail, to the Philofophical Tranf- 

 actions. 



CHAP. 



