88 Mr. A. Chapman's Rough Notes 



and if they do not breed in a feral state, it is difficult to 

 account for one of those above mentioned being at least a 

 third larger than tbe other*. 



To return to the Flamingoes. On examining narrowly the 

 different herds, there was an obvious dissimilarity in the ap- 

 pearance of certain groups : one or two in particular seemed 

 so much denser than the others ; tlie narrow white line ap- 

 peared at least three times as thick, and in the centre looked 

 as if the birds were literally piled upon each other. Felipe 

 suggested that these birds must be at their " pajarera," or 

 breeding-place; and after a long ride througli rather deep 

 water, we found that this was so. On our approach, the 

 cause of the peculiar appearance of the herd from a distance 

 became clearly discernible. Many of the birds were sitting 

 down on a low mud island ; some were standing on it, and 

 others, again, were in the water. Thus tbe different eleva- 

 tions of their bodies formed what had appeared a triple or 

 quadruple line. 



On reaching the spot, we found a perfect mass of nests ; 

 the low mud plateau was crowded with them as thickly as the 

 space permitted. These nests had little or no height : some 

 were raised 3 or 3 inches, a few might be 5 or inches ; but 

 the majority were merely circular bulwarks of mud, with tlie 

 impression of the bird's legs distinctly marked on it. The 

 general aspect of the plateau was not unlike a large table 

 covered with plates. In the centre was a deep hole full of 

 muddy water, which, from the gouged appearance of its sides, 

 appeared to be used as a reservoir for nest-making materials. 



Scattered all round this main colony Avere numerous single 

 nests rising out of the water, and evidently built up from the 

 bottom. Here and there two or three or more of these were 

 joined together — " semi-detached," so to speak ; these sepa- 



* [I saw a small herd of these feral eauiels in the Goto de Douaua on 

 he 3rd of May, 1868 ; but findhig that my statenieut as to the breeding 

 of the Crane in that neighbourhoud was received %Yith much incredulity, I 

 liept the apparition of the camels to myself. I possessed the eggs of the 

 Crane to convince the sceptics, but I could not have produced a camel ! — 

 U.S.] 



