418 



LAMELLIRO.^TRAL GHALLATORES — rnCENICOPTERI. 



the most part in shallow Avati-r, and ravoly on tho land. Its walk is slow and stiff; 

 and it moves with great cantion, its height enabling it to wateh for the approach of 

 enemies. In flying over water it rarely rises higher than ten feet; but in crossing 

 land it always increases its elevation. 



Mr. A. ^lallory — as quoted by Mr. Audubon — writes, in 1837, that the Flamin- 

 goes were then breeding on the Keys near ^Matanzas. lie describes the nests as being 

 built on the ground, and as irregular masses of earth placed in salt ponds, surrounded 

 by Avater and two or three feet above it, their tops being hollowed out, and without 

 lining. 



The number of eggs is always two, and they are descril)ed as being white, about the 

 size of those of a Goose, sliowing, when scraped, a bluish tinge within. The young arc 

 said to be white at first, and not to attain their full scarlet color until they are two 

 years old. They take at oiu;e to the water, and cannot walk until two weeks after 

 they are hat "lied. Mr. Audubon describes an egg ])rocured from (!uba by Dr. Bach- 

 man as measuring li^ inches in length by 2^ in l)readth, of an elongated shape, pure 

 white externally, and of a bluish tint where the surface has been scraped. The 

 shell is described as being rough, granulated, and rather thick. 



Dr. Bryant found the Bahamas a favorite resort of the Flamingo, and saw im- 

 mense numbers of them at different localities. He heard of three lireeding-places. 

 but was iniable to visit them, owing to ill health ; these were the lUght of Bahama, 

 Audros Island, and Inagua. The sauu' observer had seen it stated in the " Natural- 

 ist in Bermuda" that this bird does not sit on its nest Avith its legs hanging doAvn on 

 each side ; but all the persons he questioned in regard to this statement — and they 

 were quite a number, there being among them several very intelligent persons — gave 

 him the same account of its nesting ; namely, that the nest is built of clay or marl, 

 and that it is raised gradually, the bird Avaiting for one layer to dry before applying 

 another, and that Avhen completed the nest has a conical form, resembling a sugar- 

 loaf in shape, and being slightly excaA'ated at the toj); also that the bird sits m 

 it Avith its legs hanging down on each side. The breeding-places are in shallow 

 lagoons, at a distance from the shore ; and as the bottom is a tenacious clay, they 

 can only be approached Avith great exertion. The eggs, Avheu fresh, are pure Avliitc, 

 have a smooth feeling to the touch even when the surface exhibits numerous slight 

 de})ressions, and resemble plaster models rather than eggs. They are of an extremely 

 elongated shape, and taper at one end, A-arying greatly in size. One taken by Dr. 

 Bachman at Matanzas, Cuba, measures 3.40 indies by 2.00 ; another, also from Cuba, 

 3.80 inches by 2.11. Tavo procured in the Bahamas measure, one 3.55 inches by 2.08, 

 the other 3.63 inches by 2.20. 



