THE FLAMINGO, 249 
A large and finely illustrated volume entitled “‘ Birds of the 
Bahama Islands,” has, during the present year [1880], been pub- 
lished in Boston by its author, Mr. Charles B. Corey. It contains 
the fruits of his own personal observations, and valuable infor- 
mation derived from other authors. We glean from it most of 
our information concerning the ornithology of the islands. 
The Flamingo, for the size and brilliancy of its plumage, is 
most remarkable. To be appreciated it must be seen. Witha 
small delicate neck longer than its body, and with lean and lank. 
legs longer than its neck, it stands more than five feet high, 
dressed entirely in scarlet, and with lake-red legs. Most of its 
primaries are black, as is also the terminal half of its bill; the 
basil half of the lower mandible is orange. The only bird of. 
this kind which we saw in Nassau was tame, and was kept as 
an unique and beautiful curiosity. Mounted upon stilts, it was 
quite amusing to watch it stalk around among feathered creatures 
less curiously made and less flashily dressed, and still more 
amusing to see it drink—which feat it accomplishes only by 
turning its head upside down so as to use the beak as a cup— 
a feat which is rendered quite easy of accomplishment by reason 
of its long flexible neck. : 
Mr. Corey says:—‘‘ This beautiful species was at one time very: 
abundant throughout the Bahama Islands, but of late years they 
have been so persecuted by the inhabitants that at the present 
time they are to be found in any numbers only upon the inland 
ponds and marshes of Inagua and Abaco; they are gradually dy- 
ing off, or seeking some more inaccessible locality as yet undis-. 
turbed by the presence of mankind, and in all probability, with 
the next century the flamingo will be unknown in the Bahamas. . 
The inhabitants find their breeding places, and gather hundreds 
of their eggs. They kill great numbers of the young birds be- 
fore they are able to fly, and carry away nearly as many alive to 
