Fam. PHGENICOPTERIDjE.
718. P hcenicopterus erythrieus , Verr.
Greater South African Flamingo,
Our large Flamingo has a wide range throughout South Africa,
. and has been killed, both in mature and young plumage, at the
mouth of Salt River, close to Oape Town. We are informed that-it
is very abundant at Yerloren Yley at certain seasons; and many
persons have assured us that it breeds there. Mr. Chapman also
informs us that both the Flamingos found in South Africa breed on
Lake N’gami, forming a large elevated nest of rushes, amid the
reeds that surround the lake. We saw it in great .numbers at the
mouth of the river flowing out of Zoetendals Vley in November.
An egg, said to belong to this species, was presented to the Museum
by Miss Boonzaier, of Hoedtje’s Bay. It is pure white, finely
granulated ; shell extremely thin : axis, 3" 9'" ; diam., 2" 7'".
Mr. Rickard has procured the Flamingo near Port Elizabeth at
the salt-pan at Bethelsdorp, on the Uitenhage road. Mr. Andersson
writes: «This Flamingo is very abundant at Walwich Bay, Sandwich
Harbour, Angra Pequena, and the mouth of the Orange River;
it is also met with in a few inland localities, such as Lake N’gami^
Lake Orondava, &c., all of which are more or less impregnated with
salme substances, to which this species seems to be attached. With
rare exceptions (and these not well authenticated, but merely surmised
from young birds being sometimes found barely able to fly)
the Flamingos do not breed in any parts of the coast above particularized;
and, indeed, the only locality where I know for a certainty
that they nest is the inland one of Lake N’gami. On the approach
of the breeding season they leave the coast of Damara Land, and
wing their way to the northward; they take their departure about
the month of February, and return about the latter end of October
and during November, the old birds being the first to arrive. The
Flamingo feeds both during the day and the night; but I suspect
-fhat the latter is its principal feeding-time; for about sunset flocks
varying from a few individuals to many hundreds may be seen
pursuing their Right m various directions, and their loud croaking
voices may be heard throughout the night. The favourite resorts of
these birds are shallows partially left dry by the ebbing tide; here
they industriously search for the small Crustacea, marine animalcula,
and sea-grasses which constitute their food. The Flamingo is
strictly a wading bird, but on rare occasions will make use of its
webbed feet by resorting to deep water, evidently for the sake of
the fun of the thing.’5 A specimen has been procured by Senor
Anchieta at Mossamedes.
General colour, pure white; the wings black and crimson; base
of the bill crimson; the tip black; legs light-crimson. Length,
4' 6"; wing, 17|"; tail, 8"; leg, 2' 2".
Fig. Gray, Ibis, 1869, pi. xiv, fig. 6 (head).
719. P hcenicopterus minor, Geoffr. Small Flamingo.
Several specimens of this Flamingo have reached our hands from
widely different localities; and Mr. Piers informs us that they
approach the end of the continent as far as Yogel Yley, near
Tulbagh. It has also been observed at Cradock.
According to Mr. Andersson, this species is comparatively rare
at Walwich Bay and elsewhere on the south-west coast of Africa,
but at Lake N’gami it is more common. Senor Anchieta has sent
five specimens from the neighbourhood of Mossamedes. Sir John
Kirk gives the following localities: Zambesi delta, Shire valley,
Lake Nyassa, Mozambique. He says that it is a constant dweller
throughout the year in the Zambesi delta, being found in other
parts during the wet season only.
General colour, pale pink; wings black ; outside edges, deep
pink or crimson; bill, purple-pink. Length, 3' 3"; wing, 14";
tail, 6"; leg, 16".
Fig. Temm. PI. Col. 419.