46 



RED FLAMINGO 



bird when in full plumage is wholly of a most deep scarlet, (those 

 of Africa said to be the deepest) except the quills, which are black; 

 from the base of the thigh to the claws measures thirty-two inches, 

 of which the feathered part takes up no more than three inches ; 

 the bare part above the knee thirteen inches, and from thence to 

 the claws sixteen ; the color of the bare parts is red, and the toes 

 are furnished with a web as in the Duck genus; but is deeply in- 

 dented. The legs are not straight^ but slightly hent^ the shin rather 

 projecting, 



" These birds do not gain their full plumage till the third year. 

 In the first they are of a greyish white for the most part ; the se- 

 cond of a clearer white, tinged with red, or rather rose color; but 

 the wings and scapulars are red; in the third year a general glow- 

 ing scarlet manifests itself throughout; the bill and legs also keep 

 pace with the gradation of color in the plumage, these parts 

 changing to their colors by degrees as the bird approaches to an 

 adult state. 



" Flamingoes prefer a warm climate, in the old continent not 

 often met with beyond forty degrees north or south. Every where 

 seen on the African coast, and adjacent isles, quite to the Cape of 

 Good Hope,^ and now and then on the coasts of Spain,t Italy, and 

 those of France lying in the Mediterranean sea; being at times met 

 with at Marseilles, and for some way up the Rhone. In some sea- 

 sons frequents Aleppo,! and parts adjacent. Seen also on the Per- 

 sian side of the Caspian sea, and from thence along the western 

 coast as far as the Wolga; tho this at uncertain times, and chiefly 

 in considerable flocks, coming from the north coast mostly in Oc- 

 tober and November; but so soon as the wind changes they to- 

 tally disappear.il They breed in the Cape Verd isles, particularly 

 in that of Sal.lT The nest is of a singular construction, made of 



* In Zee Coow river. Phil. Trans. Once plenty in the Isle of France. Voy. to Mauritius, p. 66. 

 f Ahout Valencia, in the lake Albufere. Dillon's Trav. p. 374. 



i KussePs Aleppo, p. 69. I Decouv. Russ. ii, p. 248. ^ Damp. Voy. i, p. 70. 



