188 
RED FLAMINGO. 
the number is said to stand sentinel ; and upon the 
appearance of the least danger he gives a loud scream, 
and instantly the whole flock is on the wing ; and, 
when thus roused, they all join in the noise, and fill 
the air with their screams, which have been compared 
to the sound of a trumpet. 
Their nest is of singular construction : it is formed 
of mud, in the shape of a hillock, with a cavity at the 
top : in this the female generally lays two wliite eggs, 
of the size of those of a goose, but somewhat larger. 
The hillock is of such a height as to admit of the 
bird's sitting on it, or rather standing, as her legs 
are placed one on each side at full length. Linnaeus 
says that she will sometimes lay her eggs on the 
projecting part of a low rock, provided it be suffi- 
ciently convenient to admit of her legs being placed 
as before mentioned. The young are not able to fly 
till a long time after they are hatched : but they can 
previously run with amaznig swiftness. They are 
sometimes caught at this age, and are easily tamed. 
In a few days they become familiar, and will even eat 
out of the hand ; and they are said to drink a large 
quantity of sea-water. But though easily rendered 
domestic, it is difficult to rear them, as they are apt 
to decline from the want of their natural food. 
These beautiful birds were much esteemed by the 
Romans, who often used them in their grand sacri- 
fices and sumptuous entertainments. Their flesh is 
thought tolerably good food ; and the tongue was 
looked upon by the ancients as the most delicious of 
all eatables : in fact, the Roman emperors considered 
them as the highest luxury; and we have an account 
