During the French revolutionary war, when the English were expected to
make a descent upon St. Domingo, a negro, having perceived, at the
distance of some miles, in the direction of the sea, a long file of
flamingoes, ranked up and priming their wings, forthwith magnified them
into an army of English soldiers; their long necks were mistaken for
shouldered muskets, and their scarlet plumage suggested the idea of a
military costume. The poor fellow accordingly started off to Gonalves,
running through the streets, and vociferating that the English were
come! Upon this alarm, the commandant of the garrison instantly sounded
the tocsin, doubled the guards, and sent out a body of men to
reconnoitre the invaders; but he soon found, by means of his glass,
that it was only a troop of red flamingoes, and the corps of
observation marched back to the garrison, rejoicing at their bloodless
expedition.