LAMELLIROSTRAL GRALLATORES. Order VL ODONT- 
OGLOSS^E 
FLAMINGOES. Family PHOENICOPTERIDAE 
182 . Flamingo. Phcenicopterus ruber. 
Range. — Tropical and sub-tropical America on 
the Atlantic coasts, breeding in the Bahamas and 
West Indies; north to Florida and casually to the 
South Atlantic States. 
These remarkable and grotesque appearing 
birds attain a length of about 48 inches. The 
plumage varies from white to a deep rosy red. It 
requires several years for them to attain the per- 
fect adult plumage, and unlike most birds, they 
are in the best of plumage during the winter, the 
colors becoming faded as the nesting season ap- 
proaches. The birds are especially noticable be- 
cause of the crooked, hollow, scoop-shaped bill, 
and the extremely long legs and neck. The feet 
are webbed, but more for the purpose of support- 
ing them upon the mud flats than for use in swim- 
ming. The nests are usually built on a sandy 
point of an island; they are mounds of earth, grass 
and rubbish from one to two feet in height, the 
top being hollowed to receive the eggs. One or 
two eggs are a complete set. The shell is pale 
blue, but this is covered with a heavy white chalky 
deposit. The eggs are laid in June and July. 
Size 3.40 x 2.15. 
American Flamingo 
Roseate Spoonbill 
IBISES, STORKS, HERONS, etc. Order VII. HERODIONES 
The members of this order are wading birds, consequently they all have 
long legs and necks. They have four toes, not webbed. 
SPOONBILLS. Family PLATALEIDAE 
183. Roseate Spoonbill. Ajaia ajaja. 
Range. — Tropical America, north in summer to the Gulf States. They form- 
erly nested in remote swamps along the whole Gulf coast, but are now confined 
chiefly to the Everglades in Florida. 
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