The Marismas, 



23 



The results were unfortunately not successful, although 

 we had the good fortune, by reason of every condition 

 being in our favour, to approach within forty yards of the 

 birds. 



Our encampment was in the direct line of the evening 

 flight of many birds from one stretch of water to another. 

 Every evening, just at sunset, we sallied forth to sit and 

 wait, in danger of being eaten alive by mosquitoes, for the 

 flight. For ten minutes or so no bird was to be seen or 

 heard. Then in the far distance a great flock of birds 

 appeared silhouetted against the glow of the setting sun. 

 For a quarter of an hour these shadows flew up and down, 

 tailing out and bunching up, performing all sorts of 



Fig. 9.— The Dead Flamingo. 



evolutions, and forming all manner of shapes and patterns 

 like a flock of knot or dunlin in an English harbour. At 

 last they steadied down and flew towards us, looking larger 



