4 _THE NATURAL HISTORY 
-* The webs between the toes are in the form 
a half-moon, all.the toes are fhort, but the back 
toe is remarkably fmall. The quill feathers in 
the wings are always black; the reft of the wings 
the back, and breaft, are of a beautiful red colour 
F lamingoes are found in warm climates, on th 
-coaft of Africa, the Cape de Verd Iflands, and i 
Perfia by the fide of the Cafpian Sea, in South 
America, and in many of the Weft.-India Iflands 
The Negroes are fond of the Flamingo, ai 
refpect it fo much, that they never fuffer it to b 
killed; fo that it is quite familiar, and frequentl 
found near their habitations. In general, th 
Flamingoes are all the day-upon the coaft, and it 
the evening .they retire among the long grafs 
which abounds in that .country. 
They make their nefts in marfhy places, o 
heaps of mud and weed, about twenty inche 
high, like pyramids, or rather cones, with th 
-fummit broken off, (fomewhat like the pots tha 
are placed on chimnies,) and hollowed Jike a bafit 
at the top; in this hollow the eggs are laid, with 
out any preparation.of feathers. The birds fi 
upon them, and their legs hang down on eacl 
fide, like the legs of a man aftride upon a cafk 
Their nefts are always made in lakes or marfhes 
and they Jay.but two eggs, or three at moft. 
’ 7 Thei 
