22 On the Guadalquiver. 



five hundred strong — a small flock compared to others 

 we saw afterwards. Our "beaters" bad to go a long 

 way to get round the flock, so we bad plenty of time 

 to watch the birds with our glasses. Some were standing 

 on one long pink leg — dozing with head and neck tucked 

 away in the feathers of the back ; others were striding 

 about slowly and majestically ; while others with necks 

 bent and heads inverted, were " sifting" the water with their 

 bills in search of food. They looked a happy party, but were 

 soon to be disturbed by the ruthless arts of man. Suddenly 

 the long necks went up in alarm, and then the bright 

 white phalanx began to show pink here and there as a 

 bird raised its brilliant wings ; then followed a great 

 blaze of pink, and with a deep-toned *' gonk " from every 

 throat the whole flock slowly rose. As the birds spread 

 out, the rich crimson of their wings eclipsed everything, 

 and a brilliant sunset seemed to flash across the sky. We 

 gazed at them for a moment and then ducked our heads 

 and lay pressed to the ground like a couple of stone 

 curlews. So well had our men driven, that the whole 

 gaggling crowd headed straight for us, with necks and legs 

 outstretched as they flew. Not until they were right over 

 our heads did we jump up. Above us was a bewildering 

 mass of flapping wings— pink and black, and white necks 

 and pink legs — stiff and straight. Four bangs in quick 

 succession, and four flamingoes dropped their heads 

 and legs, crumpled up, and fell spread-eagled on 

 the mud. The Spaniards galloping up laughed loudly 

 at two mad Englishmen leaping wildly round some dead 

 flamingoes. 



We were much fascinated by the flamingoes, and had 

 many other opportunities of interviewing them. One day 

 we spent several hours in photographing a small flock. 



