348 
Synopsis of the Birds 
when advancing inland, where they appear astray. Feed 
on mollusca, spawn, insects, which they fish up by means of 
their long neck, turning their bill upside down to take advan- 
tage of its peculiar form. Breed socially in inundated 
marshes : raising the nest to the height of their body, by 
heaping up the mud with their feet into a hillock concave at 
top, where they lay and hatch, standing, often in the water : 
eggs two or three, elongated. Young run swiftly as soon as 
hatched. Sleep standing on one leg, the neck folded back 
upon the body, and the head under one wing. In walking 
assist themselves by placing their upper mandible to the 
ground. Run swiftly. Never swim from choice. Hearing 
and smell very acute. Voice trumpet-like. 
Spread all over the warm countries of the globe, visiting 
occasionally the temperate shores. Formed of four species, 
one of which visits Europe, and one also, North America. 
May be forced into Herodii in an arbitrary system. By the 
bill and toes, (not however, like Phalaropus, or even Recur- 
virostra, by the texture of the plumage,) approaches the 
Family Lamellosodentati. 
282 . Phoenicopterus ruber, L. Red, quills black. 
Young, grayish-white. 
Red Flamingo , Phcenicopterus ruler , Wils . Am. Orn. viii. 
p. 45. pi. 66. fig. 4. adult ; and JYoh. Am. Orn. Hi. young. 
Inhabits tropical America ; migrating in summer to the 
southern, and accidentally to the middle states : rare.* 
* Phcenicopterus antiquorum, Temm. Rose color; wings red; quills 
black. 
Young, whitish, with strongly marked long brownish blotches. 
Le Phcenicoptere , Buffon PL enl. 63. adult. 
Inhabits the warm regions of the old continent : migrating in summer to 
southern, and accidentally to central Europe : rare. 
