112 FLAMINGO. 



Ari'onliiiii' tu till' iittitii(ii'?i iif<!<iiiiifil l>v Aiiruni. ami In otljer Klamiiigo.«, tliat 1 \inw 

 seen, tbt' Imiiv i."* niivlv niiscd altovt; a levt'l, even wlifii tho head is raised in the act of 

 looking. Another iK'iiiliaiitv, that I have never seen mentioned, regarding the Flamingo, 

 ^vi(s one which I learned from mv pet, that was that the axillary feathers, Avhich are very 

 loni?, are fretinentiy projected upward hehhid the wing and over the body, standing out 

 on either side of the back like little fans. Another Flamingo that I obtained living at 

 iuagna e.xhibited l»otb of tliese peculiarities. This artitude and position of the axilllary 

 leathers may be seen in the cut, fig. 20 ; which was made from a drawing of Aurora. 



In January, 1888, I visited Inagua. The interior of this island is one vast salina, 

 iUid is a famous resort for the Flamingos. Here I had an excellent opportunity to .study 

 the notes uttered by these birds, as nearly ever\- night some of the Flamingos would fly 

 o\ er Mathewstown, where I lived, uttering their cry as they tlew. At regular intervals, 

 one bird, which I afterwards, from ol)servations made in the daytime, found to be the 

 leader of the tiock would vociferate what would soimd like the syllaldes " er-conk-conk- 

 conk,*' given harshly, this would be immediately answered by the " conk-conk-conk," 

 of others. probal>K females, rendered in a much more melodious tone. When Flamingos 

 arc distuibed, oi' frightenetl. their cries are a confused series of conks and gobbles which 

 remind one much of the mixed cries of Ducks and Geese. Flamingos when at re,st will 

 frequently give a single " conk," a kind of call to attract the attention of any stragglers, 

 and Avhen the^' perceive an enemy they give a liar.sher crv. Flamingos are of a 

 social disposition, and often gather in large numbers, especiall\- at night, at which times 

 they feed. 



Through the kmdness of my friend, Mr. Daniel Sargent, American Vice Consul at 

 Mathewstown, Inagua, who kindly furnished me wnth means of conveyance, I was enabled, 

 in com])any Avith my able and efficient guide, Daniel Sweeting, to visit the salinas on 

 several occasions and to study the habits of the Flamingos there. 



At one time, late in January, we had penetrated into the interior of t'le island 

 many miles, and had reached the bordei's of a lai-ge, shallow lake, near the shore of which 

 was a mangrove island. Durmg the daytime Ave had seen numbei*s of Flamingos and I 

 was assurred by my guide that they fed near this i.sland at night. Accordingly about 

 sunset, we concealed ourselves among the mangroves of the i.sland, and awaited the 

 coming of the Flamingos, As the sun disiippeared numerous Cormorants, Pelicans and 

 Herons began to settle on the low trees over our heads, and one large Brown Pelican 

 alighted so near me that I could have touched it with mv gun barrel. As soon as the 

 short twilight gave place to dai'kness, we heanj the honk of the Flamingos and .soon they 

 began to arrive, each group alighting Avith a splash in the Avater nea.i\ Soon himdreds 

 had gathered, and although Ave could hear them Avallowing about, so dense Avas the dark- 

 ness, that neither my guide or myself coidd see a .single bird. Finally I .saw Avhat I 

 tliought Avas a group of Flamingos and fired. As the report of my gun rang out, awaking 

 the echos far doAvn the lake and over the silent land, first came a sud<len stillne.s.s, foUoAved 



