of the Delta of the Rhone. 199 



on pivots, whilst the hidden head was swept around and 

 described an outer circle under water. The conclusion 

 at once formed was that the food^ whatever it might be, 

 was certainly obtained by raking among the mud, and it 

 was equally evident that it consisted of something that re- 

 quired to be pursued and captured. We took some pains 

 to ascertain the nature of the food thus sought, and 

 eventually satisfied ourselves on this, perhaps, not unim- 

 portant point. To do this it was necessary to make a 

 careful investigation of the life contained in the waters of 

 this large etang — fortunately not a very difficult matter, 

 owing to its being a salt lagoon. To begin with, there 

 was no sign of vegetation in these remarkably clear waters. 

 We were not able to detect even the lower forms of 

 plant-life of microscopic dimensions. Of animals, a few 

 dead eels"^ were observed; and the valves of small cockles 

 [Cardium edule) were abundant on the shores, but we failed 

 to find any containing the mollusc. Neither of these crea- 

 tures need be further discussed in connection Avith the food 

 of the Flamingo. There were, however, present in the waters 

 myriads of a tiny Phyllopod, the brine-shrimp {Artemia 

 salina), and we secured a number of specimens. Indeed, so 

 marvellously abundant were these tiny crustaceans in Valcares 

 that the receding waters had left them stranded in countless 

 millions, and their decaying remains formed large discoloured 

 patches on the shores of the etang. This so-called shrimp, 

 it is well known, breeds in vast numbers in the mud of salt- 

 lakes. Now, if we consider all these facts — i. e., the nature 

 of the food afforded by the etang; the peculiar method 

 of feeding adopted by the Flamingoes; and, finally, the 

 fact in the life history of Artemia just mentioned and its 

 abundance — it is thought the chain of evidence is entirely in 

 favour of the brine-shrimp forming the chief food of the 

 Flamingo in the Camargue. The bird disturbs the little 

 creatures in the mud, and entraps them in its box-like 



* These eels, no doubt, lind their way into the etang from the drainao-e- 

 level which communicates with it on the north, and probably soon 

 succumb. 



