CHAP. a fcarlet creft and fmall pearls (life thofe of the Mufcovy
XIV< t duck) feparating the bill from the ! -eyes-; they are always"
feen in pairs, and when they fly produce air agreeable
whiffling Trom; their4 throats. The fpnr-winged water-
hen, on account of its great beauty* reminded me of
another fine bird I lately faw upon one of the neighbours?
ing eftates, but which I had forgotten to mention : this
Was the Guiana curlew, hefë-dalledtflamingo, from its
great refemblance to the famous bird of .that naiihe, feen
in Canada and many parts of North and South. Arrierica,
and which is fuppofed to be of the- crane kind, with- its
body as large as that of an European fwari. This bird,
however, is only the fize of a fmall heron,; it has; no
'tail, but a very long neck, and long'limbs, with:four itoesi:
the head is •fmall, and the bill alfó long, rbund, and
arched. The flamingo lays! always two eggs, ,w.hieh,
when hatched,' the chickens appears black*' nfext ; .g|éf,
then white* as thdy come nearer, maturity | and, -fin'aliy,
: th e whole bird becomes a bright fearlet or crimfomTohie
not lighter than the cofeur of bloede; They hi fo-
ciety like the ftorks, and moffly oh the banks'- of rivers,
or neat * thé’ féa, where they are feeri inWfuth' amazing
flocks, that the fands Teem dyed with vermilion ; thefe
birds, when young, are accounted very good" eatipgyand
are fo tame,' that oh the/plantations they are frequently
feen walking and feeding among the poultry, though
fiih and animal food they generally, prefer. .
Thus