THE FLAMINGO 



187 



he came, a method which was effective in keeping him on 

 the move until he found his own home. 



The young stay in the nest until they are three or four 

 days old. During this time they are brooded by the parents, 

 one or the other of which is always in attendance. With a 

 bill as large as their nestling's body, it was of special inter- 



Young Flamingo Returning to the Nest 



est to observe how the latter would be fed. The operation | 

 is admirably shown in the colored frontispiece. What, in 

 effect, is regurgitated clam broth, is taken drop by drop 

 from the tip of the parent's bill. At times the bird, 

 standing above its chick, leans over and feeds it, or while 

 brooding, a snowy head is pushed out from a vermilion 

 wing, and with a swan-like movement the neck is gracefully 

 curved as the food is administered. 



This is the young bird's first meal. His next attempts at 

 eating are of special interest. It will be observed that the 

 bill in a newly hatched Flamingo bears small resemblance 



