FLAMINGO. - 105 



spread their wings, and depart as tliev came, but this !mie honking most sonorously as 

 if remonstrating with me for invading their hitlierto undisturbed territory. 



Later that evening we saw several otlier flamingos, and next morning encountered 

 a flock of some thirty or forty, in a shallow lagoon some five miles from the vessel. We 

 succeeded in getting witliin two hundred yards of these, when they began to flap their 

 wings and to pace along through the water, spreading out into a long line. Alarmed at 

 our near approach, they too spread their wings, formed a line in the air, and vociferating 

 loudly, departed in a northwesterly direction. 



All that day we searched the Hats for the breeding ground of the Flamingos, but 

 without success, although we did succeed in finding two nesting places of previous sea- 

 sous, but none that were occupied. Noting, however, that the general course of the Fla- 

 mingos seen had been northward, I concluded to search the west coast of Andros in that 

 direction. 



The morning of May 14th. found us well on our way, winding in and out among the 

 dangerous mud banks that abound on this coast. We had landed at one or two places 

 where Flamingos occurred, but had been disappointed in not finding the nesting place. 

 Several times I had climbed to the mast head to look out over the wide marly plane that 

 was intersected hy a net work of lagoons and creeks, hoping to see an assembly of scarlet 

 birds that I knew must indicate the presence of a rookery, but at length, through constant 

 disappointment, was beginning to loose faith in ever finding the desired breeding place on 

 Andros. 



Our captain and pilot were anxious about keeijing the vessel in such an exposed sit- 

 uation, and upon consultation, 1 concluded to push ahead for Wide Opening, a place that 

 oflered a secure anchorage for the night. I was sitting on deck idly looking over the side 

 of the vessel at the familiar objects, seen so clearly through the pelucid waters, but without 

 regarding them much, when I heard our pilot, who was on the lookout at the mast head 

 exclaim, " We don't go to Wide Opening today, massa ! " My first idea, upon heai'ing 

 this, was that the vessel had entered some cul-de-sac in the banks, from which the wind 

 was unfavorable to extricate her. 



With this idea in mind, my first glance fell upon the water ahead, in search of the 

 light gi'een spots that indicate shoals. As none were to be seen extensive enough to 

 cause alarm, my next look was upward, into the dark face of our faithful pilot, when I 

 saw by the expression on his countenance that obstructions from mud banks was far from 

 his mind. 



Springing into the shrouds, as the Creole descended, I was soon aloft looking to the 

 eastward. There, far in the interior, I could see a low, extended, ruddy line, like a bril- 

 liant, crimson sunset cloud resting on the level land. 



Ci O O O O O I) o o o o - 



An hour later we stood within three hundred yards of live thousand Flamingos. 

 We were drenched to the skin and covered with marl, having had to wade three creeks 

 in which the mud and water were arm-pit deep ; but Avhat did that nuittcr ! Minor af- 



