Identifier: storiesaboutbird00kirb (find matches)
Title: Stories about birds of land and water
Year: 1874 (1870s)
Authors: Kirby, Mary, 1817-1893 Kirby, Elizabeth, 1823-1873
Subjects: Birds -- Juvenile literature
Publisher: Hartford (Conn.) : American Publishing Co.
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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e mud with their webbed feet, and raise up theinsects and spawn of which they are in search. In the summer the flock of flamingoes will take a journey northward asfar as the Rhine. When they are on the wing they have a very splendidappearance. They look like a great fiery triangle. All at once they slackentheir 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 onceto fish. Considering the enormous length of its legs, you would wonder how thebird 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,with a hole at the top. Here the mother bird lays two eggs about the size ofthose of the goose. The nest is high enough to allow her to throw her legs across it and situpon the eggs, in an attitude as if she were riding. The flamingo sitting onits nest in this manner has been compared to a man on a high stool, with his
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FLAMINGOES. 2x6 STOIilES AH OUT BIRDS. legs hanging down. The nest itself is very curious, and is sohd nearly to thetop, and then hollow hke a pot. The bottom of the nest is in the water, and the bird usually has its feetin the water. In some parts of the tropics, the birds are tamed for the sakeof their skin, which is used instead of swans down. They are caught in snares,or else decoyed by tame flamingoes that are used on purpose. The tameflamingoes are driven into places frequented by the wild ones, and meat is laidupon the ground. As soon as the wild flamingoes see the others eating themeat, they come forward to obtain a share. A battle ensues between thebirds; and the bird-catcher, who is hidden close by, watches his opportunity todart 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 rosy colour, with black wings. In oldtimes the flesh of the flamingo was considered a dainty, and even now theyoung

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