THE COURIER. THE FLAMINGO. 
Ill 
w h'te, except the inner scapulars, the middle of the wing 
c overts and outer webs, and ends of the quills, which again 
re black. It weighs about thirteen ounces, and is frequent 
n the winter, on most of the sea-coasts of Europe, as well 
as in the Fens of Lincolnshire, Cambridge, &c. It feeds 
?i worms and insects, which it scoops out of the sand with 
, s . hill. The American Avoset differs only in being some- 
_ n g larger, and having the neck and breast of a deep 
Cre ain-colour. In Hudson’s Bay there is a White Avoset. 
The Courier is an Italian bird, somewhat less than the 
av °set, the bill is shorter, straight, and yellow. The upper 
P ar .ts of the plumage of a rusty-brown, the under parts 
nite. It is remarkable for its swiftness in running, from 
hich property it derives its name. 
f ^jhe F lamingo is, perhaps, the most remarkable of water- 
^ ^ ’ it is one of the tallest, and the most beautiful. The 
0 ° d y, which is of a beautiful scarlet, is no bigger than that 
a swan ; but its legs and neck are of such an extraor- 
j * nar y length, that when it stands erect, it is six feet six 
fr c hes high. Its wings, extended, are five feet six inches 
(. ?. rri tip to tip ; and it is four feet eight inches from tip to 
j 1 • The head is round and small, with a large bill, seven 
Th 1 lon °’ P a| tly red, partly black, and crooked like a bow. 
rri e /egs and thighs, which are not much thicker than a 
at ? s finger, are about two feet eight inches high ; and its 
by n ear three feet long. The feet are feeble, and united 
ttie k^ 1 anes> as in those of the goose. Of what use these 
'Cranes are does not appear, as the bird is never seen 
j tl t' rtlr 'h ri g, its legs and thighs being sufficient to bear it 
iS, "hose depths where it seeks for prey, 
hut ” 1S extr aordinary bird is now chiefly found in America, 
its WaS once known on all the coasts of Europe. Its beauty, 
s Ucb Ze ’ aml tlle peculiar delicacy of its flesh, have been 
(jgg te mptatio n s to destroy or take it, that it has long since 
co-ed the shores frequented by man, and taken refuge in 
■Juries that are as yet but thinly peopled, 
dow l ' le Europeans first came to America, and coasted 
on s n a * on g the African shores, they found the flamingos 
dist i. eVe s ^ ores on either continent gentle, and no way 
tfi e Ust ful of mankind. When the fowler had killed one, 
forded* ^ ^ le fiooh? far from attempting to fly, only re- 
nish,t. 1 ,e ^ °fi their companion in a kind of fixed asto- 
tbus tf nt f an °ther and another shot was discharged ; and 
thein b >w ler often levelled the whole flock, before one of 
e o an to think of escaping. 
