CHAPTER XVI./

CURIOUS SPECIMENS OF THE FEATHERED TRIBES.

te Odd-Looking Flamingo-" Bean Pole" of the Bird World-Fiery Plumage-Elegant Appearance-Singular Nest-Remarkable Construction of Jaws-The “Kiwi-Kiwi ”—Wingless Creatures-Descendants of the Ancient DinornisNew Zealand Chiefs Dressed in the Skin of the Apteryx-An Egg that Weighs One-fourth as much as the Bird-Habits of the Apteryx-The Ostrich-Bird of the Desert-Extraordinary Nest and Eggs-Birdlings Hatched by the SunArabian Stories of the Ostrich-Royal Carriage Drawn by a Team of OstrichesRiding the Two-legged Steed--Cunning Methods of Capture-American Ostrich Described-Noisy Guinea-Fowl-Flesh of Fine Flavor-Conspicuous Crest-Eggs Colored like the Plumage-The Sacred Ibis-Varied Colors-Bird of Mexico-Egyptian Veneration for the Ibis-Regular Migration-Embalmed Remains in Egyptian Burial Places-The Giant Heron-Lonely Creature-Inhabitant of Marshes and Water Courses-Singular Habits-Seeking PreyStanding for Hours on one Leg-Little Herons-The Heron and Falcon in Combat-The Shoe-Bill-Strangest of all Birds-The Spoon-Bill-A Voiceless Bird-The Owl-Immense Eyes-A Night Prowler-White Owl-Tenant of Barns-Voracity for Mice-The Owl Attacking a Man-Little Birds' RevengeThe Darter-Long Neck-The Famous Stork-Remarkable Intelligence-A Good Wife and Mother-Storks Sentenced to Death for Infidelity-The Adjutant-Blue-Headed Parakeets.

HERE are few birds so odd in their appearance as the flamingo. Its body is not so large as that of the stork, but its legs are like long stilts. Indeed, they may be said to be quite out of proportion to its size; when it stands up it is six feet high. The head is small, but is furnished with a very long bill, which, as you see, curves down from the middle. The end of the bill, as far as the bend, is black, and then a reddish yellow. The tongue is large and fleshy, and fills up the whole of the bill, and the tip is gristly. Its long legs rather link it with the waders, but the three front toes are united by a web as in the case of the water-birds.

'The plumage of the head, when in its full perfection, is deep scarlet, with black quills. As it strides about upon its stilt-like legs, with its enormous length of neck, we should regard it as a most uncouth creature but for its splendid scarlet robe, that excites our admiration. It lives with its companions in a flock, and the flock stand in a line, like sentinels, clad in their red uniform. One of the band acts as a watchman, and if any danger approaches, utters a scream like the sound of a trumpet. Then

the whole flock rise in the air with loud clamor, and look very much like a fiery cloud.

The creeks and ravines of tropical countries in Asia and Africa abound with flamingoes. They are seen standing, as in the engraving, and pre

sent a most grotesque appearance. Their way of feeding is very peculiar They twist their neck in such a way that the upper part of the bill touches the ground, while they disturb the mud with their webbed feet, and raise up the insects and spawn of which they are in search.

In the summer the flock of flamingoes will take a journey northward as

far as the Rhine. When they are on the wing they have a very splendid appearance. They look like a great fiery triangle. All at once they slacken their speed, hover for a moment, and then alight on the banks of the river. They range themselves in the usual line, place their guards, and begin at once to fish.

Considering the enormous length of its legs, you would wonder how the bird contrives to hatch its eggs, or what kind of a nest it builds. It is a mason bird, and forms its nest of mud, in the shape of a hillock, w't a hole at the top. Here the mother bird lays two eggs about the size of those of the goose. The nest is high enough to allow her to throw her legs across it and sit upon the eggs, in an attitude as if she were riding. The flamingo sitting on its nest in this manner has been compared to a man on a high stool, with his legs hanging down. The nest itself is very curious, and is solid nearly to the top, and then hollow like a basin.

Flamingoes in the Snare.

The bottom of the nest is in the water, and the bird usually has its feet in the water. In some parts of the tropics, the birds are tamed for the sake of their skin, which is used in swans' down. They are caught in snares, or else decoyed by tame flamingoes that are used on purpose. The tame flamingoes are driven into places frequented by the wild ones, and meat is laid upon the ground. As soon as the wild flamingoes see the others eating the meat, they come forward to obtain a share. A battle ensues between the birds, and the bird-catcher, who is hidden close by, watches his opportunity to dart forward and seize the prey.

There are two kinds of flamingoes-that of America is of a deep red, while the one in Asia and Africa is rose-colored, with black wings. In old times the flesh of the flamingo was considered a dainty, and even now the young bird is thought by some people to taste like partridge. But the people in these days, who have tasted it, say it is very disagreeable. There was a tame flamingo that lived a little time in our latitude. It used to dip its bread in water, and to eat more in the night than in the day. It was very impatient of cold, and would go so near to the fire as to burn. its toes. One of its legs was hurt by an accident, and it could not use it But it contrived to walk all the same, for it put its head to the ground and used its long neck as a crutch.

As the flamingo frequents the sea-coast and the adjacent marshes, it has the power of swimming, and its toes are partially webbed; and thus it may fearlessly venture even beyond its depth, nor apprehend being carried away by the retiring tide. Its food consists of small fish, shells, and water insects, for the capture of which its beak is most singularly

constructed; in length it is nearly five inches; the upper mandible is bent downwards in the middle, at an acute angle, as if broken, the space from the angle to the point being a broad flat plate, of a somewhat oval figure; the lower mandible, which is the larger, is so adjusted as to fit the angle with its edges, its under surface being gently arched downwards. The edges of both mandibles are furnished with a row of tooth-like eminences, those of the upper being the larger.

The use of the mandibles is like a strainer, allowing the water to pass through, but retaining any small body, as an insect or a fish. In searching for food in the mud, at the bottom of waters, the upper and not the under mandible is applied to the ground; the flat portion of its surface being well adapted for pressing close down on the soft bed of the marsh or creek. Hence, in that situation, the inferior mandible is placed uppermost, and by its motion works the disturbed and turpid water through the two, as is seen in ducks and other aquatic birds.

The first year the flamingo's livery is of a grayish clouded white; the second, the white is purer, but the wings are tinted with a beautiful rosecolor; in the third year it attains full plumage. Its color is then extremely rich and brilliant, being of a fine deep scarlet on the back, and roseate on the wings, the quill-feathers of the wings being jet black. The hues of the bird become more intense during succeeding years. A flock of these tall and splendid birds, moving about on the sea-beach, with their plumage reflecting the glowing rays of a tropical sun, is a spectacle never to be forgotten.

The Apteryx or Kiwi-Kiwi.

The apteryx is a native of New Zealand and belongs to the ostrich family. These birds are found in extensive and thick beds of ferns, in which they hide. They are nocturnal and feed on worms, snails, insects and larvæ, run swiftly and defend themselves with their powerful feet. Their name is derived from the apparent absence of wings, those members being merely rudimentary. When hunted by dogs, it seeks refuge among rocks and in the chambers which it excavates in the earth. In these chambers its nest is made and the eggs laid.

The natives hunt it with great eagerness, as the skin is used for the dresses of chiefs, who can hardly be persuaded to part with a single skin. The bird has a singular habit of resting with the tip of his bill placed on the ground. The nostrils of the apteryx are placed almost at the very extremity of the bill. The aborigines of New Zealand give it the name of Kiwi-Kiwi. Their eggs are extraordinarily large and weigh about one-fourth as much as the female bird.