FLAMINGO, Phanicopterus, a genus of birds which until recently was placed by all naturalists among the grallatores (waders), but is now generally ranked among the palmi pedes, and even referred to the family of anatidw. The bill is large, deeper than broad, and suddenly Curved downwards near the middle, so that, as the bird wades and seeks its food, either in the water or in the mud, it makes use of the bill in a reversed posi tion, the upper mandible being lowest. The edges of both mandibles are furnished with small and very fine transverse laminae, which serve, like those in the bills of the ordi nary anatiche, to prevent the escape of the small crustaceans, mollusks, worms, small fishes, seeds, etc.,, which are the F.'s food, and to separate them from the mud with which they may be mingled. The upper surface of the tongue is also furnished on both sides and at the base with numerous small flexible horny spines, directed backwards. Unlike the ordinary anatida, flamingoes have great part of the tibia, as well as the tar sus, naked, in this resembling all the waders. They. are birds of powerful wing, and fly either in strings or in wedge-shaped flocks like geese, a single bird leading the way for the flock. - They seldom make use of their webbed feet for swimmiug, to which the length of their legs is not well adapted, the use of the membrane being rather to sup port them on soft muddy bottoms. When feeding, they keep their feet in almost con
stant motion, as if to stir the mud. Hundreds may sometimes be seen feeding together in the shallow waters or salt marshes of tropical coasts, chiefly of Asia and Africa, or on the banks of rivers or inland lakes, and by their large Size and rich colors making a brilliant spectacle. They make their nests in marshes, scraping together a heap of mud, on the top of whicla is the nest; and it is said that the long legs of the female F. often hang down into the water during the incubation, not being easily disposed of otherwise.—There are several species of F., but very similar to each other, both in appearance and habits. One species only visits the s. of Europe, the common F. (P. •uber), a bird measuring fully 4 ft. from the tip of the bill to that of the tail, and 6 ft. from the tip of the Dill to the claws; the male, when in full plumage, of a rose red color, with deep purple wings; the female, and the young for several years, are less brilliant, the young at first being whitish; and the red first appearing on the wings.— The AMEIUCAN F. (P. Ame ricanus or Cliilensis) is of a more orange tint, and is abun dant on many parts both of the eastern and western coasts of America.