THE FLAMINGO 169 



too far from those hoped for to afford much satisfaction. 



We were now obliged to go to Nassau to replenish our 

 supplies and meet the steamer from New York, on which 

 Dr. B. E. Dahlgren was coming to assist Professor Wheeler 

 in a study of the Andros reef and Mrs. Chapman to take her 

 usual post as my field assistant. In the meantime, Peter 

 was dispatched to the region visited in 1902, and, on return- 

 ing, our joy may be but faintly imagined when, boarding the 

 schooner during a dark and stormy night, at no small risk, 

 he reported that Flamingos were nesting at this place in 

 unusually large numbers. Being on slightly higher ground, 

 they had apparently not been affected by the storm of 

 May 17. 



Wings could not now have borne us to the scene rapidly 

 enough. Professor Wheeler and Dr. Dahlgren were landed 

 at Mangrove Cay to pursue their studies of marine life, 

 while Mrs. Chapman and I set sail for the Flamingos' 

 metropolis. 



For the first time since leaving Florida, wind and tide 

 favored us. A distance which, on a former voyage, had 

 consumed four days was now covered in one, and the next 

 morning we reached the nearest point to which the schooner 

 could approach the rookery. Peter 's assurance that it was 

 "not too berry far, sir," to the Flamingos, convinced us, in 

 the light of past experiences, that they were distant at least 

 ten miles, possibly more. It was not practicable, therefore, 

 to go and return the same day, and though the frequent 

 rains and tempestuous squalls which must be encountered 

 were not the weather one would select for tent-life, it was 

 evident that we must camp near the rookery. 



Without loss of time, our outfit was embarked in the 

 schooner 's two boats which, with two of the crew and Peter, 

 we rowed or poled against the wind, and dragged over 

 muddy shoals and marly bars hour after hour, until, though 

 coming from the west, we arrived at an islet of large man- 

 groves, occupied by Reddish Egrets and Louisiana Herons, 



