RED FLAMINGO. 



47 



mud, in shape of a hillock^ with a cavity at top; in this the female 

 lays generally two white eggs,"^ of the size of those of a Goose, but 

 more elongated. The hillock is of such an height as to admit of 

 the bird^s sitting on it conveniently, or rather standing, as the legs 

 are placed one on each side at full length.t The young cannot fly 

 till full grown, but run very fast. 



" Flamingoes, for the most part, keep together in flocks ; and 

 now and then are seen in great numbers together, except in breed- 

 ing time. Dampier mentions having, with two more in company, 

 killed fourteen at once ; but this was effected by secreting them- 

 selves ; for they are very shy birds, and will by no means suffer 

 any one to approach openly near enough to shoot them.j Kolben 

 observes that they are very numerous at the Cape, keeping in the 

 day on the borders of the lakes and rivers, and lodging themselves 

 of nights in the long grass on the hills. They are also common 

 to various places in the warmer parts of America, frequenting the 

 same latitudes as in other quarters of the world; being met with 

 in Peru, Chili, Cayenne,!! and the coast of Brasil, as well as the 

 various islands of the West Indies. Sloane found them in Ja- 

 maica; but particularly at the Bahama islands, and that of Cuba, 

 where they breed. When seen at a distance they appear as a re- 

 giment of soldiers, being arranged alongside of one another, on 

 the borders of the rivers, searching for food, which chiefly consists 

 of small fish,1f or the eggs of them, and of water insects, which 

 they search after by plunging in the bill and part of the head ; 

 from time to time trampling with their feet to muddy the water, 

 that their prey may be raised from the bottom. In feeding are 

 said to twist the neck in such a manner that the upper part of the 



* They never lay more than three, and seldom fewer. Phil. Trans. 



f Sometimes will lay the eggs on a projecting part of a low rock, if it be placed sufficiently con- 

 venient so as to admit of the legs being placed one on each side. Linn. 



^ navies talks of the gunner disguising himself in an ox hide, and by this means getting within 

 gun-shot. Hist. Barbad. p. 88. 



{{ Called there by the name of Tococo. ^ Small shell fish, Gesner. 



