92 The Birds of the Assyrian Monuments and Records. 
" The Expedition for the Survey of the Rivers Euphrates and 
Tigris," 1850, Vol. II, p. 44, where it is called the Tair-el- 
Raouf, or the magnificent bird (Arabic raft, " noble," 
" exalted." " These extraordinary birds," it is said, "frequent 
the rivers Sajur and Koweik." Dr. Heifer, a German 
naturalist who joined the expedition, says that these buds 
" are seen in large flocks, and it is known that they have the 
surprising habit of forming a kind of artificial embankment 
across the rivers Saggeoar and Kouweik. Having for this 
purpose chosen the shallowest spot, they arrange themselves 
side by side in several close ranks, and sit down with their 
tails to the current, and their feathers spread out. By this 
contrivance they in some degree check the course of the 
water, which in consequence overflows at the chosen spot, 
and one of the flock, previously placed as a sentinel a little 
distance from the rest, gives as a signal a cry not unlike that 
of the stork, but much more shrill ; upon which the rest of the 
flock dart upon the fish, frogs, toads, &c, which are then 
almost without water, and make a sumptuous repast of all 
that are thus caught." (Appendix, p. 722.) 
It is extremely improbable that this extraordinary and 
cunning proceeding has been corroborated by other evidence. 
Can the Accadian name of this " royal bird " be under- 
stood as in any way a confirmation, if not of a veritable 
fact, yet of an idea that at all events is at present held by 
the natives of these districts ? 
In a letter which Dr. Ains worth has kindly favoured me 
with, in answer to my inquiries, he writes : " I never heard of 
anyone corroborating the story told of the flamingo, under 
the name of Tdir-el-Raouf, " the splendid bird," by Colonel 
(late General) Chesney ; but I know that he had it from an 
old resident in Aleppo on his first journey. I met the gentle- 
man, whose name I forget, afterwards at Aleppo, and I have 
every reason to believe that he was a conscientious man, 
and in every way to be trusted, although the story has an 
Oriental savour about it." Now the Accadian name answering 
to the dhar lugal-luv (^f^f t^O' "the royal bird" 
of the Assyrian column, is complete. It is wrongly transcribed 
