208 On the trail of vanishing birds 



duces an outward behavior and appearance that is in evidence only 

 at this time of year. At no other season is the tall male so wonder- 

 fully feathered, or so deeply and brilliantly colored. The graceful 

 plumes that extend beyond his tail, curving elegantly, are never 

 so long or so scarlet as now. The yellow and orange of the bill is 

 never so bright as at this time. Even the black at the tip of the 

 mandibles is more glossy than it will be later on. And his bearing 

 is something you will see only during this period. He is like a 

 very dignified gentleman who is all dressed up for an exceedingly 

 festive occasion, but has had one glass of punch too many and 

 so is striding about with exaggerated care, as if walking on eggs. 

 Nor can the more modest female be overlooked. She, too, is more 

 beautiful than at other seasons, but she is a trifle smaller and a 

 trifle less brilliant than the male, while her behavior, except for 

 the excusable frenzy of the dance, is quite unassuming, and never 

 ostentatious, or vain, or overbearing. These seem to be male man- 

 ifestations, at least in the flamingo. 



Once the birds are gathered and the quadrille gets under way, 

 it is apparent that the males act in their own masculine way, and 

 the females after their fashion. They are now readily distinguish- 

 able as to sex, whereas at other times, without the emphasis of 

 certain adornments and of specific and unusual behavior, the sex 

 of an individual might not be evident and, for that matter, at such 

 a time, would be of no particular consequence. In addition, pair- 

 ing off can now follow quite naturally and relevantly. All this 

 leaping and milling about stirs responses that serve to push each 

 individual over the line into an ecstatic state of things that will 

 carry them through courtship and connubial bliss. Then, as the 

 peak of this phase is passed, other objects and other patterns take 

 over the egg-bearing female, the nest mound, the newly hatched 

 chick and these release still other manifestations, so that, unless 

 broken off by outside disturbance, the cycle gradually unfolds and 

 step by step is ultimately completed. 



But the spectacle of the prenuptial dance, the flamingo quad- 

 rille, is the most stirring scene of all, from our point of view. 

 When you have seen that you have seen the flamingo at its best. 

 The interludes that follow, dutifully domestic and charming as 



