74 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



for many years placed in close proximity to the storks, probably 

 on account of their long legs and necks, but recent investigations 

 have shown that they really are closely allied to the ducks and 

 geese. There are six or seven species, inhabiting the temperate 

 zones of both the Old and New World. Perliaps the most curious 

 feature in connection with Flamingos is their nest. Until so late 

 as 1883 it was supposed that the nests were two or three feet high, 

 and that the birds sat upon their single egg with the legs 

 straddled on either side of them. This idea, however, was 

 dissipated by Mr. Abel Chapman, who in that year visited the 

 swamps along the Guadalquiver in Spain, and there fully investi- 

 gated their habits. He reported them as being excessively shy, 

 and great caution had to be exercised in approaching a flock 

 when feeding in the shallow pools. The flocks numbered from 

 two to five hundred individuals. At the least noise they were off, 

 and a more beautiful sight than the simultaneous spreading of 

 their hundreds of crimson wings, flashing against the sky like a 

 gleam of rosy light, can scarcely be imagined. Prof Chapman 

 succeeded in reaching a large rookery in a lagoon in the interior 

 of the Island of Andros (Bahamas). The locality was only a few 

 inches above sea-level, and was characterized by wide stretches 

 of shallow water bordered by red mangrove trees, with occasional 

 bare bars of grey marl and outcrops of coraline rock, so eroded 

 and watervvorn as to make walking a great difficulty. Subsequent 

 research showed that the locality was regularly frequented by 

 the birds for breeding purposes, but that apparently a different 

 spot was chosen each year. Eight groups of nests were found 

 within a radius of a mile. The largest, placed on a mud-bar 

 only an inch or two above the level of the surrounding water, 

 was a hundred yards in length by about thirty in width, and an 

 estimate based upon an actual count of a portion of the colony 

 gave a total of two thousand nests for the three thousand 

 square yards. An attempt was made to observe the birds 

 engaged in the construction of their mud nests, but owing to 

 their wariness this was impossible, but from those in process of 

 building it was possible to gain some idea of their manner of 

 construction. The nest may be described as a mud cone from 

 nine to twelve or thirteen inches in height, in the slightly hollowed 

 top of which a single white egg is laid. Doubtless the height of 

 the nest is governed by the rise of the water, and being built 

 wholly of mud, which is scooped up from about the base of the 

 nest by the bird, it is necessary that the site chosen shall be 

 near enough to water to insure an abundant supply of soft 

 material. Such a site would, however, bring the nest within 

 reach of the tide, or it might be flooded by heavy rains, con- 

 sequently the birds must build their nests high enough to protect 

 their contents from the water. The eggs are white, but showing 



