66 
RED FLAMINGO. 
as, in all those which I examined, the plumage on the upper 
ridge of the neck, and upper part of the back, was evidently 
worn by this habit. The same is equally observable on the 
neck and back of the wood ibis. 
The present species rarely extends its visits north of Caro- 
lina, and even in that state is only seen for a few weeks to- 
wards the end of summer. In Florida they are common, but 
seldom remove to any great distance from the sea. 
RED FLAMINGO.— PHCENICOPTERUS RUBER. 
Plate LXVI. Fig. 4. 
Le Flamant, Briss. vi. p. 532, pi. 47, fig. 1. — Buff, viii. p. 475, pi. 89. PI. Enl. 
63. — Lath. Syn, iii. p. 299. pi. 93. — Arct. Zool. No. 422. — Cateshy, i. pi. 
73, 74. — Beale's Museum., No, 3545, bird of the first year; No. 3546, bird of 
the second year. 
PHtENICOPTERUS RUBER Linn.eus. 
Pbcenicopterus ruber, Bonap. Synop. p. 348. 
This very singular species being occasionally seen on the 
southern frontiers of the United States, and on the peninsula 
of East Florida, where it is more common, has a claim to a 
niche in our Ornithological Museum, although the author re- 
grets, that, from personal observation, he can add nothing to 
the particulars of its history, already fully detailed in various 
European works. From the most respectable of these, the 
Synopsis of Dr Latham, he has collected such particulars as 
appear authentic and interesting. 
This remarkable bird has the neck and legs in a greater 
disproportion than any other bird ; the length from the end of 
the bill to that of the tail, is four feet two or three inches ; but 
to the end of the claws, measures sometimes more than six 
feet. The bill is four inches and a quarter long, and of a con- 
struction different from that of any other bird ; the upper man- 
dible very thin and flat, and somewhat movable ; the under, 
thick ; both of them bending downwards from the middle ; the 
nostrils are linear, and placed in a blackish membrane ; the 
