AMERICAN FLAMINGO. 257 



many islets at some distance from the mainland afford them ample 

 protection. In their flight they resemble Ibises, and they usually 

 move in lines, with the neck and legs fully extended, alternately flap- 

 ping their wings for twenty or thirty yards and sailing over a like 

 space. Before alighting they generally sail round the place for seve- 

 ral minutes, when their glowing tints become most conspicuous. They 

 very rarely alight on the shore itself, unless, as I am told, during the 

 breeding season, but usually in the water, and on shallow banks, whe- 

 ther of mud or of sand, from which however they often wade to the 

 shores. Their walk is stately and slow, and their cautiousness extreme, 

 so that it is very diflicult to approach them, as their great height en- 

 ables them to see and watch the movements of their various enemies 

 at a distance. When travelling over the water, they rarely fly at a 

 greater height than eight or ten feet ; but when passing over the land, 

 no matter how short the distance may be, they, as well as Ibises and 

 Herons, advance at a considerable elevation. I well remember that on 

 one occasion, when near Key West, I saw one of them flying directly 

 towards a small hummock of mangroves, to which I was near, and to- 

 wards which I made, in full expectation of having a fine shot. When 

 the bird came within a hundred and twenty yards, it rose obliquely, 

 and when directly over my head, was almost as far ofi". I fired, but 

 with no other efi'ect than that of altering its course, and inducing it 

 to rise still higher. It continued to fly at this elevation until nearly 

 half a mile ofi^, when it sailed downwards, and resumed its wonted low 

 flight. 



y 



Although my friends Dr John Bachman, Dr Wilson, and Wil- 

 liam KuNHARDT, Esq. of Charleston, have been at considerable trouble 

 iu endeavouring to procure accounts of the nidification of these birds and 

 their habits during the breeding season, and although they, as well as 

 myself, have made many inquiries by letter respecting them, of persons 

 residing in Cuba, all that has been transmitted to me has proved of 

 little interest. I am not however the less obliged by the kind inten- 

 tions of these individuals, one of whom, A. Mallory, Esq. thus writes 

 to Captain Croft. 



" Capt. Ckoft, Matanzas, April 20. 1837. 



Dear Sir, — " I have made inquiry of several of the fishermen, 

 and salt-rakers, who frequent the keys to the windward of this place, 



VOL. v. R 



