THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



succeeded in reaching a large Flamingo rookery well in the heart 

 of Andros without undue difficulty. Our schooner was left at 

 anchor behind the shelter of some outlying reefs and the final 

 part of the voyage was made in small boats. 



The locality is only a few inches above sea level and is charac- 

 terized by wide stretches of shallow lagoons bordered by red 

 mangrove trees with occasional bare bars of gray marl, and by 

 outcrops of coralline rock so eroded and water-worn into blade- 

 like edges and sharp, jagged pinnacles that walking is attended 

 by much danger. Our tents were pitched on a sand-bar and 

 preparations made to visit the Flamingo colonies known to 

 exist in the vicinity. 



Subsequent research showed that the locality was regularly 

 frequented by these birds as a breeding resort, but that appar- 

 ently a different spot was chosen each year. Eight groups or 

 villages of nests were found within a radius of a mile, each evi- 

 dently having been occupied but one year. The largest of these, . 

 placed on a mud-bar only an inch or two above the level of the 

 surrounding water, was loo yards in length and averaged about 

 30 yards in width. An estimate, based on an actual count of a 

 portion of this colony, gave a total of 2000 nests for an area of, 

 approximately, only 27,000 square feet. 



This colony we judged to have been occupied in 1900; while 

 that of 1 90 1 was found at a distance of a mile, the nests being 

 scattered about in a dense growth of mangroves. Here the 

 birds were found at work upon their nests for the present year, 

 Mr. Bonhote seeing a flock estimated to contain about 700 birds 

 — a sight of surpassing beauty. Although no shot was fired and 

 a retreat was promptly made, the birds were disturbed by this 

 intrusion and either discontinued operations or removed to some 

 other locality and eventually we were forced to leave without 

 seeing fresh nests. Those in process of building, however, told 

 somewhat of the manner of their construction. The nests of 

 1 90 1, built among the mangroves, were in an excellent state of 

 preservation (some even containing eggs) and being partly sun- 

 baked could be transported more readily than new nests. Indeed 

 it is doubtful if the latter could be removed. 



