232 CURSORES. 
in the water, her body being supported by the nest. 
The Flamingo, like its neighbors the Herons, is ex- 
ceedingly shy and difficult to approach ; when moving 
over the water, it generally flies low, but upon near- 
ing land, unless its purpose is to alight, it imme- 
diately ascends to a considerable height, as though 
to escape danger. We clip the following from Audu- 
bon’s notes respecting this bird : 
“On the 7th of May, 1832, while sailing from In- 
dian Key, one of the numerous islets that skirt the 
southeastern coast of the Peninsula of Florida, I for 
the first time saw a flock of Flamingoes. It was on 
the afternoon of one of those sultry days which, in 
that portion of the country, exhibit toward evening 
the most glorious effulgence that can be conccived. 
The sun, now far advanced toward the horizon, still 
shone with full splendor, the ocean around glittered 
in its quiet beauty, and the light fleecy clouds that 
here and there spotted the heavens, seemed flakes of 
snow margined with gold. Our bark was propelled 
almost as if by magic, for scarcely was a ripple raised 
by her bows as we moved in silence. Far away to 
seaward we spied a flock of Flamingoes advancing 
in ‘ Indian line’ with well-spread wings, outstretched 
necks, and long legs directed backward. Ah! reader, 
could you but know the emotions that then agitated 
my breast! I thought I had now reached the height 
of all my expectations, for my voyage to the Floridas 
was undertaken in a great measure for the purpose 
of studying these lovely birds in their own beautiful 
islands. I followed them with my eyes, watching as 
