OF BIRDS. 
243 
as to wound the leg through the boot. Sometimes it 
turns on its back, like rapacious birds, and fights with 
both its bill and claws. When surprised by a dog, it is 
said always to throw itself in this posture, and defend 
itself so vigorously, as to compel its antagonist to 
reti re. 
Flamingo. ( ’ Phoerucopterus Ruber . Lath. PI, 41.) 
The flamingo is the tallest, largest, and most beautiful 
bird of the crane kind. The body, which is of a bright 
scarlet, is about the size of that of a large swan; the wings 
extended are five feet six inches from tip to tip; and 
the neck is nearly three feet long. The head is round 
and small and furnished with a long bill, partly red and 
partly black. The legs and thighs are remarkably slen- 
der, and the toes are united by membranes, like those of 
a goose, though the animal has never been seen in the 
act of swimming. 
When seen in the day-time, these birds always appear 
drawn up in a long close line of two or three hundred 
together, and present, at the distance of half a mile, the 
exact representation of a long brick wall. When they 
break their ranks to search for food, one of them is al- 
ways employed as a centinel, who sounds an alarm on 
the remotest appearance of danger. 
The female builds her nest in extensive marshes, where 
there is no danger of a surprise; and the fabric is not less 
curious than the bird that erects it. It is raised about 
eighteen inches above the surface of the pool, and is 
formed of mud, scraped together and hardened in the 
sun; its shape resembles that of a common chimney-pot; 
the upper part is hollowed out to the shape of the bird; 
and in that cavity she lays her eggs, which never exceed 
two in number. The young ones are for a long time 
incapable of flying, but they are said to run with amazing 
c°lerity. They may be easily domesticated; but gene- 
rally pine away for want of their natural supplies. 
Cushew Bird. fPl. 41.) This bird’s natural size, 
is nearly that of a nen-turkey. It has its name from 
the knob over its bill, which, in shape, greatly re- 
sembles the cushew nut of America. It is a native 
