288



Mr. Hubert D. Astley,



Apparently the mature plumage is not reached until the birds

are about three years old. The younger Flamingos very soon

attain the same size as the rosy adults, but their plumage when

they are full grown is first grey-white and then the colour of a pale

tea-rose before it attains its full sunset glory.


On the north coast of the lake the belt of Flamingos must

be nearly a mile broad from the edge of the lake outwards. Seen

from above, this mass of birds on its shoreward side is grey-white,

then becomes white in the middle, and has a lakeward ring of the

most exquisite rose-pink, the reason being that the birds on the

outer edge of the semi-circle are the young ones, whilst those far¬

thest out into the lake are the oldest. It is not easy to make the

birds take flight. When they do so suddenly and the shallow water

is stirred, the stench which arises is sickening. The noise of these

birds can be heard for nearly a mile distant. The kronk, kronk,

kronk of the million, mingled with hissings and spluttering's and

splashings and the squish, squish, squish of those who are starting

on flight, combine to make a tumult of sound in the presence of

which one has to shout to one’s companions in order to be heard.

It is curious to watch the ungainly motions of these birds when

they wish to rise in the air.


Their flight has to be preceded by an absurd gallop through

the mud before they can lift themselves on their wings.”


Sir Harry Johnston says that as regards Lake Hannington

an important fact should be noticed, namely, that right out in the

middle of the lake and at intervals along its shores there are the

remains still standing of a former forest. These trees appear to

have been killed partly by the saltish waters of the lake, and in

part by being made the eyries of innumerable birds such as storks,

herons, and eagles.


Flamingos in captivity, unless they are in an enclosed aviary,

or on a very small piece of water where it is easy to catch them up,

should certainly be pinioned, or else sooner or later (probably sooner)

they will fly away, and more probably still be shot, as is the custom

in this enlightened country, just as many years ago my tame Storks

(Ciconia alba) were done to death by a farmer, when they settled in

a field near his poultry, his excuse being that he thought they were



