AMONG THE FLAMINGOES. 



109 



As there stated, the immense aggregations of 

 flamingoes in those middle marismas, sm-rounded the 

 horizon in an almost unbroken line. But, on examining 

 the different herds narrowly with the binocular, there was 

 an' obvious dissimilarity in the appearance of certain 

 groups. One or two in particular seemed so much denser 

 than the others : the narrow white line appeared at least 

 three times as thick, and in the centre looked as if the 

 birds were literally piled upon each other. Felipe 

 suggested that these birds must be at their pajcrcra, or 

 breeding-place, and after a long wet ride we found this was 



A TOILET IN THE WILDERNESS. 



so. The water was very deep, the bottom clinging mud : 

 at intervals, for a hundred yards or so, the laboured 

 plunging of the mule was exchanged for an easier, gliding 

 motion — he was swimming. The change was a welcome 

 relief to man and beast : the sensation of sitting a swim- 

 ming animal is not unpleasant, but it will give some idea 

 of the labours undergone in these aquatic rides in the 

 marismas in May, 1883, if we add that a line mule, a 

 powerful beast worth i'60, succumbed to the effects of 

 the fortnight's work. 



On a nearer approach, the cause of the peculiar 



