48 
RED FLAMINGO. 
from time to time trampling with their feet to muddy the water, 
that their prey may be raised from the bottom. In feeding are 
said to twist the neck in such a manner that the upper part of the 
bill is applied to the ground f during this one of them is said to 
stand sentinel, and the moment he sounds the alarm, the whole 
flock take wing. This bird when at rest stands on one leg, the 
other being drawn up close to the body, with the head placed un- 
der the wing on that side of the body it stands on. 
“ The flesh of these birds is esteemed pretty good meat ; and 
the young thought by some equal to that of a Partridge ;f but the 
greatest dainty is the tongue, which was esteemed by the ancients 
an exquisite morsel. § Are sometimes caught young and brought 
up tame ; but are ever impatient of cold, and in this state will sel- 
dom live a great while, gradually losing their color, flesh and ap- 
petite ; and dying for want of that food which in a state of nature, 
at large, they were abundantly supplied with."’ 
Linnaeus. Brisson. 
\ Commonly fat and accounted delicate. Davies’s Hist. Barbad. p. 88. The inhabitants 
of Provence always throw away the flesh, as it tastes fishy, and only make use of the feathers 
as ornaments to other birds at particular entertainments. Dillon’s Trav. p. 374. 
^ See Plin. IX, cap, 48. 
