418 LAMELLIROSTRAL GRALLATORES — PHCENICOPTERI. 



the most part in shallow water, and rarely on the land. Its walk is slow and stiff ; 

 and it moves with great caution, its height enabling it to watch for the approach of 

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

 land it always increases its elevation. 



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

 goes were then breeding on the Keys near INIatanzas. He describes the nests as being 

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

 by water 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 described as being white, about the 

 size of those of a Goose, showing, when scraped, a bluish tinge within. The young are 

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

 years old. They take at once to the water, and camiot walk until two weeks after 

 they are hatched. Mr. Audubon describes an egg procured from Cuba by Dr. Bach- 

 man as measuring 3| inches in length by 2^- in breadth, 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 breeding-places, 

 but was unable to visit them, owing to ill health ; these were the Bight of Bahama, 

 Andros Island, and Inagua. The same observer had seen it stated in the " Natural- 

 ist in Bermuda " that this bird does not sit on its nest with its legs hanging down 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 waiting for one layer to dry before applying 

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

 loaf in shape, and being slightly excavated at the top; also that the bird sits on 

 it with its legs hanging do^mi 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 with great exertion. The eggs, when fresh, are piu-e white, 

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

 depressions, and resemble plaster models rather than eggs. They are of an extremely 

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

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

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

 the other 3.63 inches by 2.20. 



