Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-02-23
THE FLAAIINGO.

The Flamlng0 IS a remarkable water fowl.
! It'll one Of the tallest and most beautifnl TIE
! 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 5 b
/ extraordinary length, that when II st9pdk
| erect, it is between six and seven feet hiUII.
! It's wings, when expanded, reach ab0ut f vh
! feet and half. The bill which is formed
like bow, is partly red and partly black. and
not less than seven inches in lenrth. Thb
legs and thighs which are not much tbicIer
than mans hnger, are about two feet ami
/ three-quarters long, and the neck more than
three feet. The tees are united with webb
like those Of a goose.
This extraordinary fowl, although once weIE
known IN Europe, IS now found only on the
African and American coasts. It's beauty. it'll
size, and the peculiar delicacy Of It's flesh and
tongue, have been such temptations to lis del
structIOn or capture, that it has long since del
serted the shores frequented by men. and
taken refuge in those that are yet but thinly
peopled. The tongue Of this, bird was oncd
thought the greatest Of delicacies- The r d
mans considered it as the most elegant dish.
and history informs US that one Of their END
perors had fifteen hundred of them served uD
at one Of his foasts.
When the Europeans first visited America
and the Southern coast Of Africa, thew found
the Flamingoes on the shores Of each cont-
nent, perfectly gentle, and not in the least dis
trustful Of mankind. When the fowler dis
charged his piece among them. they wera
seized with kind Of stupor, which rendered
them incapable Of fight. They regarded the
fall of their companions with a fixed astoaisE-
ment; and when shot after shot was dischar1
ged, the whole flock was sometimes Ievelled
before one Of them began to think of escap ping
Misfortune, however, teaches precauti0n I'd
every creature; and the disasters which the
FlamingO has experienced from the fatal ell
fects Of firearms, have rendered it scarce and
one Of the shyest birds in the world. To ap1
preach it, is almost impossible; for it always
keeps near the salt water lakes and swampY
islands, on the most inhOspitable and unfreI
quented shores.
When seen during the day, these birds al
ways appear In flock of two or three hundred
together, drawn up in q close line; and DAM
pier says, that when thus viewed at 4 distanceI
they present to the eye the exact representa-
ton of long brick wall. When they break
their ranks to search for food, one of them isl
always appointed as watch: and as soon as
the trusty sentinel Perceives the remotest ap-
pearance Of danger, he gives scream as loud
and as shrill as the sound Of q trumpet and
In moment the whole flock is on the wing.I
The FIaningo builds It's nest in extensiveI
marshes, where there is no danger of surprised
and the fabric Is as great q curiosity as the ar
chitect. 1t is raised about foot and hala
above the surface Of the pool, and is formed of
mud, which is hardened in the sun. 1t rel
sembles the frustrum Of cone, or one Of those
pots which are commonly placed upon chim-
neys. On the top, it is followed out to the
shape Of the bird, and IN that cavity the female
deposites her eggs, which never exceed two
III number. The young ones are a long time
before they can fly, but they run with amaz1
ing speed. When taken young, they arevery|
History.