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Show FtLir "tale rFf -GRAHAM - BOiCB THE AMERICAN FLAMINGO "There Is such a dash to my name," said the American Flamingo- "Whatever do you mean?" asked the European Flamingo Now the American Flamingo was known as Jlr. A. Flam for short, and the European Flamingo was known as Mr. E. Flam. "There is just as much dash to yours," said Mr. A. Flam. "I don't understand you at all," said Mr. E. Flam. "Pray explain yourself." "I don't know that I can,"' said Mr. A. Flam, "Please try," coaxed Mr. E. Flam. "There is no special reason for it, and I don't suppose anyone else thinks there is a great deal of dash to the name of Flamingo, but to me there is. "It sounds so gay and dashing and fine and smart." "Oh, that is different," said Mr. E. Flam. "From the way you spoke first I Imagined that you meant our names Kiltie us dash or run around, or something some-thing like that." "Oh, no," said Mr. A. Flam, laughing. laugh-ing. "Where did you come from?" he asked, after a moment. "I came from Europe," said Mr. E. Flam, "and so I am called the European Euro-pean Flamingo. "My wings are edged with pink, but, as you can see, I am white. "All my cousins and all the members mem-bers of my family ae the same. "But do tell me about yourself." "I am a cousin of the herons the birds," said the American Flamingo, "and also of the ducks. "1 am like the herons because my legs are so very long, and I am like "What Is the Reason for That2" Asked Billie. the ducks because my poor old feet are webbed and I have the bill of the duck. "I am from South America as my name tells you. "I am of a very much brighter scarlet scar-let color when I am free." "You are beautiful now," said Mr. E. Flam. "But wdien I am free my coloring Is more brilliant. Only my little touches of black remain the same. "But, somehow or other, in the zoo I lose my flaming colors." "What is the reason for that?" asked Billie Brownie, who had just arrived. "Really, I don't know," said the Flamingo, Fla-mingo, "and so many ask me that. "There Is no reasou for it, except that I do not get so much freedom, of course, and the quiet life must make me duller in color." "Are you happy here?" asked Mr. E. Flam. "Wonderfully happy," answered Mr. A. Flam. "I like to laugh and Joke with my keepers and the visitors and I think the zoo Is fine. "I never have to worry about my marketing for It Is always done for me, but strangely enough my color Isn't quite so gay here as outside. "That's the only way In which 1 differ in the zoo from the world without. with-out. "But I'm very, very happy," screamed the American Flamingo gaily. And Mr. E. Flam said he was glad of It, and Billie Brownie said so, loo, and went back to tell the Brownies and the Elves, the Fairies and the (Inonies, Old Mr. Giant, Witty Witch, the members mem-bers of the Bogey family and the members mem-bers of the Oaf family all about the Flamingoes, their coloring and their ways. |