The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-11-08

FLAMINGo.-The Flamingo is remarkable wa
ter fowl It is one oEthe taest and most beautiful.
Ils body, which is about the size of that of the
swan, is covered with plumage of the most brilliant
scarlet It's legs and neck are Of so extraordinary
a length, that when it stands erect, it is between
six and seven feet high. Its wings, when expand
ed, reach about FIVE feet and half The bill,
which is formed like bow is partly red and partly
black, and not less than seven inches in length
The legs and thighs, which are not much thicker
than a mans finger are about two feet and three
quarters long, and the neck more than three feet
The toes are united with web, like those Of a
goose
This extraordinary fowl, although once well
known in Europe is now found only on the Afi-
can and American coasts. Its beauty, its size, and
the peculiar delicacy of its flesh and tongue, have
been such temptations to its destruction capture,
that il has long since deserted the shores frequent
ed by men, and taken refuge in those that are yet
but thinly peopIed. The tongue of this bird was
once thought the greatest Of delicacies. The RO-
mans considered it as the most elegant dish, and
history informs us that one of their Emperors had
fifteen hundred Of them served up at one Of his
feasts.
When the Europeans first visited America and
the southern coast of Africa they found theslamn-
goes on the shores of each continent perfectly gen.
tie, and not in the least distrustful of mankind.
When the fowler discharged his piece among them,
they were seized with kind of stupor which rem
dered them incapable Of flight. They regarded the
fall of their companions with fixed dst0nlshment
and when shot after shot was discharged, the
whole flock was sometimes leveled before one Of
them began to think of escaping. Misfortune, how
ever, teaches precauton to every creature and
the disasters which the famingo has experienced
from the fatal effects of fire arms, has rendered it
scarce, and one Of the shyest birds in the world.
To approach it, is almost impossible for it always
keeps near the salt water lakes, and swampy ISL
ands, on the most inhospitable and unfrequented
shores.
When seen during the day, these birds always ap-
pear in a flock of two or three hundred together,
drawn up in q close line and Dampier says, that
when thus viewed at a distance, they present TO
the eye the exact representation of long brick
wall. When they break their ranks to search for
food, one of them is always appointed as watch !;
and as soon as the trsty sentinel perceives the re-
hottest appearance of danger, he gives scream as
loud and as schrll as the sound of a trumpet. and
in a moment the whole flock is on the wing
The famingo builds its nest in extensive marshes,
where there is no danger of surprise; and the fab
rio is as great curiosity the architect 1t is
raised about foot and half above the surface OF
the pool and is formed of mud, which Is hardened
in the sun. 1t resembles the fruslrum Of q cone,
or one of those pots which are commonly placed
upon chimneys On the top, it is followed out 70
the shape of the Bird and in that cavity the female
deposits her eggs which never exceed two in num-
Der The young ones are long time before they
can fly, but they run with amazing speed. When
taken young, they are very tractable, and easily
tamed.-Bigland's Natural History.