174 
AMERICAN FLAMINGO. 
very broad, pointed ; the first primary half a twelfth of an inch shorter than 
the second, which is longest, and exceeds the third by one-twelfth ; some of 
the inner secondaries much elongated, tapering, and extending five or six 
inches beyond the first primary when the wing is closed. Tail very short. 
Bill black beyond the curve, then orange, and towards the base pure 
yellow, of which colour also is the bare skin at its base. Iris blue. Feet 
lake-colour. The plumage is of a very rich pure scarlet, excepting the ten 
primaries, and twenty of the secondaries, which are black, the inner ten 
elongated secondaries being scarlet. 
Length to carpal joint 271 inches, to end of wing 44, to end of tail 451, to 
end of claws 62£ ; extent of wings 66 ; bare part of tibia 9 ; tarsus 131 : 
middle toe and claw 3|- ; hind toe and claw h ; spread of foot from outer 
to inner claw 5 ; wing from flexure 16 ; tail 6 ; circumference of body 24. 
Weight 7 lbs. 8 oz. 
The Female is similar to the male, but much smaller ; its weight 6 lbs. 
4 oz. 
A male preserved in spirits. On the roof of the mouth is a large promi- 
nent median ridge, which toward the end has two sharp edges ; the sides 
concave and covered with lamellas. The lower mandible is deeply and 
widely grooved, forming a cavity 1 inch in depth at the curvature, the tip 
narrowed but obtuse, and with a flattened broadly ovate surface above. The 
tongue, which lies in this deep groove, by which it is confined so as to be 
capable of little motion, is a fleshy, somewhat compressed, decurved body, 
2 inches 2 twelfths long, measured along its upper median line, having at its 
base on each side three series of very pointed papillae, and on each side about 
20 conical, recurved, horny, acuminate papillae, about i inch in length ; 
between which is a narrow median groove. These papillae terminate at the 
curvature, beyond which is a lanceolate flattened horny surface, with a 
thin elevated margin, the organ at that part tapering to an obtuse point, 
horny on its lower surface. The nostrils are 11 inches long ; the aperture 
of the ear very small, 2 \ twelfths in diameter, that of the eye 4i twelfths. 
In this specimen the whole of the thoracic and abdominal viscera have 
been removed. 
The trachea, which is narrow, little flattened, and with its rings firm, 
passes down in front of the vertebra? to the distance of 12 inches, and is 
then deflected to the right side for 11 inches more. The diameter at the 
upper part is 44 twelfths, and it gradually enlarges to twelfths ; at the 
lower part of the neck its greatest breadth is 7 twelfths. It then passes 
over the vertebras, continuing of the same breadth, enters the thorax, con- 
tracts at its lower part and is compressed, its diameter being 4 twelfths 
