PnCENICOPTERID.E — THE ELAMIXGOES — PHa^NICDPTEHUS. 



417 



without the 8inalh\st regard oitlu'r tor tlit-ir ooiiit'ort or their lives. On the return 

 of the Jiarty to Indian Key tlie dead l)irds, whicli were all in a very fat condition, 

 were distrilnited, and the liviuij; ones eontined in a ten-pin alley. 



Dr. Wurdenuiini states tiiat there must have been not less than live hundred 

 Flamingoes assembled where the last were captured. They appeared to congregate 

 in these shallow waters, feeding on a small shellfish having the form of a clam, 

 which they fished ui> from the nuuldy banks. No other food was found in their 

 stomachs. They wt re always seen in Hocks, and their notes sounded at a distance 

 like those of Wild Geese. When captured, they uttered a single low note like that 

 of a Crane when siuldenly started. 



While in confinement one Flamingo would utter a cry like that of the Domestic 

 Goose calling for its mate, and this cry would be answered by another bird in notes 

 similar to those of a Gander. 1'he captives were fed on rice and fresh water, but 

 woidd not eat so long as they were >vatched. Of eight birds dissected by Dr. Wiirde- 

 niann only one was found to be a femah', and he inferred that the females moult 

 earlier tha i the males. The hel])less condition to which the Flamingo is reduced 

 when moulting nuikes it an easy ]>rey to its enemies, and must eventually lead to 

 its extermination. In confinement it becomes so tame as to feed from the hand of its 

 captor. 



Wilson, eojjying from Dr. Latham's "Synojjsis," gives an account of the breeding 

 of this bird which, though long considered as trustworthy, is now known to be erro- 

 neous. The Flamingo does not build uj) a small hillock-like nest, hollowed at the 

 top, on which it can sit, resting either foot on the ground. The nest is raised but 

 slightly above the surface, and only just enough to jirotet^t it from the danger of 

 being overflowed \>\ tin water of the marshes in which it is i)la(^ed. 



Mr. J. L. Hurdis states that a party from JJermuda, in .Tidy, 1850, visited the 

 Bahamas, Avhere they found the Fhnuingoes in great numbers. This party visited 

 Luke IJosa and waded to some of the islands, the water being only knee-{leep. On 

 one of these islands there were at least two Inuidred of these birds, too shy to admit 

 of a near ajjproach. Man\' young Flamingoes were discovered, some of which were 

 run down and captiu'cd. These had an .awkward gait, but scuttled along at a good 

 puce. They were in the gray jilumage, of different stages of growth. Mv. Hollis — 

 one of the ])arty — stated that he saw several of the nests of these birds, and obtained 

 some of their eggs. These all i)roved to be addled, and to have been thrown out by 

 the parent birds. He s]ieaks of them as being white, and abcmt the size of the egg 

 of the Common Goose. The nests were comjjosed of nuul and sticks, more or less 

 raised, on account of the surrounding water. The highest was not more than nine 

 inches above the ground, while many others were nearly level with it. T^'c surface 

 was hollowed out, and only capable of holding two eggs. 



Mr. Audid)on mentions meeting. >[ay 7, LS;i2. while sailing from Indian Key, a 

 Hock of Flamingoes advancing in *• Indian file," with spread wings, outstretched 

 necks, and long legs directed backward. These birds were very shy, and kept at a 

 distance, so that he was not able, during his stay in Florida, to procure a single 

 specimen. He states that these Flamingoes have been met with along the eastern 

 coast to as far as Charleston, S. C., where some were procured as late as 1830. Nore 

 liave ever been seen about the Mississippi or in Tex.is. 



This bird is said to be common in Cuba, especially among the small islands on the 

 southern shore not far from the nuiinland. Its Hight is like that of an Ibis, usually 

 in lines, with neck and legs extended, alternately flapping and sailing at brief inter- 

 vals. It usually sails round a locality several times before it alights, doing this for 



VOL. I. — 53 • 



