. 1S90.] Scott on Flamingoes near Cape Sable, Florida. 2.2Z 



While feeding they were stretched out in the long line already 

 described, sometimes in a single, but quite as often in a double 

 rank. This line varied in length at different times, sometimes 

 being fully a mile long and again contracting to some six hundred 

 feet. When most stretched out it was broken in places, an inter- 

 val of a hundred feet being the largest open space observed. 



All the time the birds were feeding there were three small 

 parties, varying from two to five individuals, that were apparently 

 doing a sort of picket duty. At each end of the line and about 

 one hundred yards from it was posted one of these parties, and 

 off shore and at the centre of the line and some hundred yards 

 away the third party was stationed. About every half hour the 

 individuals composing these picket squads would take wing, fly 

 to the flock in line and alight, and presently, that is in less than 

 a minute, another or part of the same picket squad would leave 

 the flock and fly to the point left but a few minutes before. 

 I am not sure that the entire squad was changed at such times, 

 but the pickets taking the place that had been left only a few 

 minutes before were generally one or two more or less in number 

 than the party they apparently relieved. I never saw more than 

 five individuals in a party, and now and then there was only a 

 single sentinel, but generally from three to five. The birds at 

 these outposts did not appear to be feeding, but were apparently 

 guarding against any attempt to surprise the main body. 



After watching them for rather more than three hours, I again 

 posted two men at points which I thought would give them 

 opportunities to secure some of the birds, and taking one of the 

 boats to windward with Capt. Cook to paddle, I attempted to 

 drift down on to the flock. As we approached, the pickets flew 

 and joined the line which gradually contracted into a solid body. 

 Looking through the glass I saw they were all facing us Present- 

 ly they flew as we came within five hundred feet of them. 

 But they seemed very loth to leave their feeding ground, and 

 soon all of them alighted again. This was repeated three times, 

 when the flock seemed to loose its organization somewhat and 

 became4.noken into smaller parties. One of these parties, com- 

 posed of five adult birds, came within very long buckshot range, 

 and I was so fortunate as to wound and finally secure a single 

 one. The whole flock left as soon as I fired, and we did not find 

 it again that day. The bird secured was in full, unworn, 



