March 1, 1899.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



53 



that the birds had laid thsre the year before, when water was 

 plentiful, but that in this dry season the nests were half a 

 mile away from the edge of the lucia. When we visited 

 this place again at the end of May, the hicia had almost 

 completely dried up, and it is extremely unlikely that the 

 flamingoes nested that year in Spain. Even in the wettest 

 seasons, although the flamingoes build nests and lay eggs, 

 they never seem to hatch out young in Spain. We left 

 the nests with some regrets that we had happened upon 

 a dry season, and soon arrived at the edge of the liiciti. 

 Now we found that our stalk would not be an easy one, as 

 there were many birds of diii'erent kinds between us and 

 the flamingoes. If we went straight on we should disturb 

 these birds, and they would disturb the flamingoes, so 

 we had to make a big detour. With infinite trouble we 

 worked to within one hundred yards of the birds in about 

 an hour, but we had frightened several flocks of smaller 



five hundred strong — a small flock compared to others 

 we saw afterwards. Our " beaters " had to go a long 

 way to get round the flock, so we had plenty of time 

 to watch the birds with our glasses. Some were standing 

 on one long pink leg — dozing with head and neck tucked 

 away in the feathers of the back ; others were striding 

 about slowly and majestically ; while others with necks 

 bent and heads inverted, were " sifting ' the water with their 

 bills in search of food. They looked a happy party, but were 

 soon to be disturbed by the ruthless arts of man. Suddenly 

 the long necks went up in alarm, and then the bright 

 white phalanx began to show pink here and there as a 

 bird raised its brilliant wings ; then followed a great 

 blaze of pink, and with a deep-toned " gonk " from every 

 throat the whole flock slowly rose. As the birds spread 

 out, the rich crimson of their wings eclipsed everything, 

 and a brilliant sunset seemed to flash across the sky. We 



Fig. 2. — Fhii 



(Fiviii a plii'toirapk In Mr. D. Lc SmiL-f. By kind permission.) 



birds on our way, and when we peeped at the flamingoes 

 from under the horses, we saw that their suspicions had 

 been aroused, and that they were walking rapidly away 

 from us. However, we persevered, and followed them, but 

 they would not allow us to come nearer, and away '' like 

 a blood red flag the bright flamingoes flew." 



We had not finished with these flamingoes. Our backs 

 were aching dreadfully, owing to want of practice in 

 walking, bent double, behind small horses. So when our 

 men pointed out that the flamingoes had settled in another 

 liicia, and were admirably placed for a drive, it was not 

 for us to deny it. Accordingly, we kept behind the horses 

 until we reached the dry land, and then we crawled some 

 distance to a spot of land which divided the water we 

 had left from the water in which the flamingoes now 

 were. Here we lay down, scarcely concealed by the scanty 

 herbage. About a quarter of a mile in front of us 

 were the birds. We calculated the flock at about 



gazed at them for a moment and then ducted our heads 

 and lay pressed to the ground like a couple of stone 

 curlews. So well had our men driven, that the whole 

 gaggling crowd headed straight for us, with necks and legs 

 outstretched as they flew. Not untU they were right over 

 our heads did we jump up. Above us was a bewildering 

 mass of flapping wings — pink and black, and white necks 

 and pink legs — stift" and straight. Four bangs in quick 

 succession, and four flamingoes dropped their heads 

 and legs, crumpled up, and fell spread-eagled on 

 the mud. The Spaniards galloping up laughed loudly 

 at two mad Englishmen leaping wildly rotmd some dead 

 flamingoes. 



We were much fascinated by the flamingoes, and had 

 many other opportunities of interviewing them. One day 

 we spent several hours in photographing a small flock. 

 The results were unfortunately not successful, although 

 we had the good fortune, by reason of every condition 



