40 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
only in the most southern districts of the country. On the 
coast of Florida, and in the Gulf of Mexico, it is frequently 
seen, but not in numbers equal to those that congregate on 
the West India islands, and particularly the shores and 
lagoons, bordering the Caribean Sea. 
The specimen from which the annexed drawing was 
made, belongs to the Philadelphia Museum, and is one of 
the most perfect of its kind. This was shot by Mr. T. R. 
Peale, on the sea-shore of Colombia, during his late visit 
to that country, but owing to the great shyness of these 
birds, he was unable to procure more than the one specimen, 
although, he said, several hundreds associated together; but 
the parts they resort to were so difficult of access, and the 
timidity of the birds so great, rendered it impossible, with- 
out too great exertion, to be more successful. This bird was 
shot at night time by the aid of lightning, and secured only 
on the following day. 
American Naturalists have not been able to furnish any- 
thing new relative to this remarkable bird, and among 
foreign authors, Dr. Latham, in his Synopsis, has given 
the most authentic and interesting particulars, which are 
here introduced. 
“This remarkable bird has the neck and legs in a greater 
disproportion than any other bird; the length from the end 
of the bill to that of the tail is four feet two or three inches, 
but to the end of the claws, measures sometimes more than 
six feet. The bill is four inches and a quarter long, and of 
a construction different from that of any other bird; the 
upper mandible very thin and flat, and somewhat move- 
able; the under thick, both of them bending downwards 
from the middle; the nostrils are linear, and placed in a 
blackish membrane; the end of the bill as far as the bend 
is black, from thence to the base reddish yellow, round 
the base quite to the eye covered with a flesh coloured 
cere; the neck is slender, and of a greatlength; the tongue 
large, fleshy, filling the cavity of the bill, furnished with 
twelve or more hooked papillae on each side, turning back- 
wards; the tip a sharp cartilaginous substance. The 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 colour of the bare parts is red, and the toes 
are furnished with a web as in the duck genus; but it is 
deeply indented. The legs are not straight, hut slightly 
bent, the shin rather projecting. 
“ These birds do not gain their full plumage till the 
third year. In the first they are of a grayish white for the 
most part; the second of a clearer white, tinged with red, 
or rather rose colour; but the wings and scapulars are red; 
in the third year a general glowing scarlet manifests itself 
throughout; the bill and legs also keep pace with the gra- 
dation of colour in the plumage, these parts changing to 
their colours by degrees as the bird approaches to an adult 
state. 
“ Flamingoes prefer a warm climate, in the old conti- 
nent not often met with beyond forty degrees north or 
south. Every where seen on the African coast, and adja- 
cent isles, quite to the Cape of Good Hope, and now and 
then on the coasts of Spain, 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 
seasons frequents Aleppo, and parts adjacent. Seen also 
on the Persian side of the Caspian sea, and from thence 
along the western coast as far as the Wolga; though this at 
uncertain times, and chiefly in considerable flocks, coming 
from the north coast mostly in October and November; but 
so soon as the wind changes they totally disappear. They 
breed in the Cape Verd isles, particularly in that of Sal. 
The nest is of a singular construction, made of mud, in shape 
of a hillock, with a cavity at top; in this the female lays ge- 
nerally 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.! 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 numbei's together, ex- 
cept in breeding time. Dampier mentions having, with 
two more in company, killed fourteen at once; but this 
was effected by secreting themselves; 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 quar- 
ters of the world; being met with in Peru, Chili, Cayenne, § 
and the coast of Brazil, as well as the various islands of 
the West Indies. Sloane found them in Jamaica; but par- 
ticularly at the Bahama islands, and that of Cuba, where 
* They never lay more than three, and seldom fewer. Phil. Trans. 
j- Sometimes will lay the eggs on a projecting part of a low rock, if it be 
placed sufficiently convenient so as to admit of the legs being placed one on 
each side. Linn. 
$ Davies 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. 
