232 CURSORES. 



in tlie water, her body being supported by the nest. 

 The Flamingo, like its neighbors the Herons, is ex- 

 ceedingly shy and difficult to approach ; when moving 

 over the water, it generally flies low, but upon near- 

 ing land, unless its purpose is to alight, it imme- 

 diately ascends to a considerable height, as though 

 to escape danger. We clip the following from Audu- 

 bon's notes respecting this bird : 



" On the 7th of May, 1832, while sailing from In- 

 dian Key, one of the numerous islets that skirt the 

 southeastern coast of the Peninsula of Florida, I for 

 the first time saw a flock of Flamingoes. It was on 

 the afternoon of one of those sultry days which, in 

 that portion of the country, exhibit toward evening 

 the most glorious efiFulgence that can be conceived. 

 The sun, now far advanced toward the horizon, still 

 shone with full splendor, the ocean around glittered 

 in its quiet beauty, and the light fleecy clouds that 

 here and there spotted the heavens, seemed flakes of 

 snow margined with gold. Our bark was propelled 

 almost as if by magic, for scarcely was a ripple raised 

 by her bows as we moved in silence. Far away to 

 seaward we spied a flock of Flamingoes advancing 

 in ' Indian line' with well-spread wings, outstretched 

 necks, and long legs directed backward. Ah ! reader, 

 could you but know the emotions that then agitated 

 my breast! I thought I had now reached the height 

 of all my expectations, for my voyage to the Floridas 

 was undertaken in a great measure for the purpose 

 of studying these lovely birds in their own beautiful 

 islands. I followed them with my eyes, watching as 



