2 74 Unexplored Spain 



but no other large bird is so brightly coloured, and no other 

 brightly coloured bird is so large. In brief, size and beauty of 

 plume united reach their maximum development in this remark- 

 able bird, while the open nature of its haunts and its gregarious 

 habit seem specially designed to display its marked characteristics 

 of form and colour to the most striking advantage. When to 

 these superficial attractions is added the fact that little or 

 nothing has hitherto been known of its nesting habits, one 

 may realise the intense longing of a naturalist, not only to 

 behold a flamingo city — itself the most remarkable sight in the 

 bird-world — but to lift the veil throuo^h which the flamingo's 

 home-life has been but dimly seen." 



