140 
PHCENICOPTERUS RUBER. 
tongue, large, fleshy, filling the cavity of the bill, 
furnished with twelve or more hooked papillae on each 
side, turning backwards ; the tip, a sharp cartilaginous 
substance. The bird, when in full plumage, is wholly 
of a most deep scarlet, (those of Africa said to be the 
deepest,) except the quills, which are black ; from the 
base of the thigh to the claws, measures thirty-two 
inches, of which the feathered part takes up no more 
than three inches ; the bare part above the knee, 
thirteen inches; and from thence to the claws, sixteen; 
the colour of the bare parts is red, and the toes are 
furnished with a web, as in the duck genus, hut is 
deeply indented. The legs are not straight, but slightly 
bent, the shin rather projecting. 
“ These birds do not gain their full plumage till the 
third year. In the first, they are of a grayish white for 
the most part ; the second, of a clearer white, tinged 
vrith red, or rather rose colour; but the wings and 
scapulars are red ; in the third year, a general glowing 
scarlet manifests itself throughout; the bill and legs 
also keep pace with the gradation of colour in the 
plumage, these parts changing to their colours by degrees, 
as the bird approaches to an adult state. 
“ Flamingoes prefer a warm climate ; in the old 
continent not often met with beyond forty degrees 
north or south ; every where seen on the African 
coast, and adjacent isles, quite to the Cape of Good 
Hope;* and now and then on the coasts of Spain, j' 
Italy, and those of France lying in the Mediterranean 
Sea; being, at times, met with at Marseilles, and for 
some way up the Rhone ; in some seasons frequents 
Aleppo, J and parts adjacent; seen also on the Persian 
side of the Caspian Sea ; and from thence, along the 
western coast, as far as the Wolga; though this at 
uncertain times, and chiefly in considerable flocks, coming 
* In Zee Coow river. — Philosophical Transactions. Once 
plenty in the Isle of France. — Voyage to Mauritius , p. 66. 
f About Valencia, in the lake Albufere. — Dillon’s Travels , 
p. 374. 
\ Russel’s Aleppo , p. 69. 
