FLAMINGO. 
105 
The Flamingo of America is found chiefly in the tropical 
regions, whence it appears to emigrate in summer on either 
side the equator, in the southern hemisphere visiting Brazil, 
Peru, Chili, and Buenos Ayres, on the shores of La Plata. 
It is also seen in Cayenne (where it is known by the name 
of Tococo, from the usual sound of its call) and in vari- 
ous islands of the West Indies. It breeds in Cuba and the 
Bahamas, is not infrequent at certain seasons on the coast 
of Florida, and sometimes solitary individuals are observed 
even in the Middle States ; but in the Union generally the 
species may be considered as rare. When seen at a distance, 
such is the brilliancy of their dress and the elevation at which 
the birds stand that they appear like a troop of soldiers being 
arranged alongside of each other in lines, while on the borders 
of rivers and estuaries near the sea they assemble in search of 
their food, which consists chiefly of small fish, spawn, and 
aquatic insects. They collect their prey by plunging in the 
hill and part of the head, and from time to time trample with 
their feet to disturb the water and raise it from the bottom. 
While the rest are thus employed in seeking their subsistence, 
one of them stands sentinel, and on the first note of alarm, a 
kind of trumpet-call, he takes to wing, and the whole flock 
inimediately follow. 
The flesh of the American Flamingo is accounted pretty 
good food, and that of the young is thought by some equal 
1^0 the Partridge. Davies, in his “ History of Barbadoes,” 
says It is commonly fat and accounted delicate ; while of the 
transatlantic species Dillon remarks that the inhabitants of 
Provence always throw away the flesh, as it tastes fishy, and 
raake use only of the feathers as ornaments. But of this kind, 
oelebrated in history, the ancients esteemed the tongue as an 
exquisite dainty, and Philostratus reckoned it among the deli- 
oacies of entertainments. 
The claim of the Flamingo to recognition here rests upon its 
appearance every' year on the Keys off the most southern coast of 
orida ; though at an earlier day nests were found on the main- 
^■ua, and flocks of the birds were met with along the western shores 
