48 



RED FLAMINGO 



bill is applied to the ground;^ during this one of them is said to 

 stand centinel, and the moment he sounds the alarm, the whole 

 flock take wing. This bird when at rest stands on one leg, the 

 other being drawn up close to the body, with the head placed 

 under the wing on that side of the body it stands on. 



" The flesh of these birds is esteemed pretty good meat; and 

 the young thought by some equal to that of a Partridge ;t but the 

 greatest dainty is the tongue, which was esteemed by the ancients 

 an exquisite morsel.J Are sometimes caught young and brought 

 up tame; but are ever impatient of cold, and in this state will sel- 

 dom live a great while, gradually losing their color, flesh and ap- 

 petite ; and dying for want of that food which in a state of nature, 

 at large, they were abundantly supplied with.^^ 



^ Linnseus. Brisson. 



t Commonly fat and accounted delicate. Davies's Hist. Barbad. p. 88. The inhabitants of 

 Provence always throw away the flesh, as it tastes fishy, and only make use of the feathers as orna- 

 ments to other birds at particular entertainments. DiUon's Trav. p. 374. 



:j: See Plin. IX, cap. 48. 



