Letters, Extracts, Notices, ^c. 151 



teresting account of his visit to a breeding-place of the 

 North- American Flamingo {Phcemcopterus ruber) on the 

 Island of Abaco^ Bahamas. Mr. Blake is not aware that the 

 vexed question of the mode in which the Flamingo sits upon 

 its eggs has already been settled by Mr. A. Chapman (see 

 Ibis, 1884, p. 88) ; but his observations are of none the less 

 interest as confirming those made on our European species. 

 Mr. Blake visited the Flamingo-colony on Abaco on the 

 7th of June, and after describing his preliminary adventures, 

 continues as follows : — '' At length, having crawled under the 

 roots of the dwarf mangroves that cover the slob like a net- 

 work of croquet-hoops, we found ourselves at the edge of 

 the marl, and within one hundred and fifty yards of the 

 birds, who were still undisturbed. Here, with my glasses, I 

 could see every feather, note the colour of the eyes, and 

 watch every movement. There were, we calculated, between 

 seven hundred and a thousand birds, and a continuous low 

 goose-like cackling was kept up. Never did I see a more 

 beautiful mass of colour. 



" The male birds had now all got together, standing about 

 five feet high, and with necks extended and heads erect were 

 evidently watching events, preserving in the meantime a 

 masterly inactivity. Now and again one would stretch out 

 his great black and scarlet wings, but the general effect was 

 the most exquisite shade of pink, as the feathers of the breast 

 and back are much lighter than those of the wings. 



" The hens sat on the nests, and some were sitting down 

 in the muddy lagoon. I watched them carefully for nearly 

 an hour, and looked at every nest to see if the legs were 

 extended along the side. In no case did I see a leg. I saw 

 the birds go on to the nests and sit down. I saw them get 

 up, and step down from the nests. In every instance the 

 legs were folded under the bird in the usual manner. In 

 my opinion my observation settles the point as to the mode 

 of sitting; for even if, as I had been assured, the birds sit 

 both ways, it is improbable that among the hundreds then 

 sitting not one would have extended the legs. Hememberino- 

 the great length of the FJamingo^s legs, it is evident that on 



