D. P. INGRAHAM. 67 



before it came down on the water ; and when we reached 

 the spot we found it dead. The following year brought me 

 no birds, although I spent several weeks with them ; but I 

 have since done some very fine work in the West Indies, 

 with better success. 



The bird makes a peculiarly beautiful appearance on 

 the wing, with its long neck extended directly out in front, its 

 bright feathers under the wing, its black primaries, and long 

 legs held straight out behind. 



The people living on the islands southeast of Cape Sable 

 are of the opinion that the birds all go to Cuba or the Baha- 

 mas to nest, as they see them passing to and fro, in those 

 directions. But I do not coincide with these ideas, and 

 think I know about where the nests are located, but it would 

 be almost worth one's life to visit the locality during the 

 breeding season, owing to the millions of mosquitoes. I do 

 not think the Flamingo is a bird of very long flight, al- 

 though they doubtless cross from Florida to Cuba and the 

 Bahamas. I do not think they ever alight in passing. 



The nesting habits are peculiar. They nest in great colo- 

 nies, and when not disturbed occupy the old nests the follow- 

 ing year. Not perhaps the same bird using its own nest of 

 the former year, but the colony as a whole occupying the 

 same nests. I have seen not less than 4,000 nests in one 

 group, as close together as they can be placed. The most 

 desirable locality seems to be some very shallow and very 

 muddy lagoon, where the nests are almost unapproachable. 

 They are made of soft mud which is worked up into a pyra- 

 mid, 18 or 20 inches across at the base, perhaps 15 inches 

 high the first season, and about 10 inches across on top. 

 This mud dries and becomes exceedingly hard, so as to re- 

 tain its form for years. The birds occupy the same nests 

 year after year, each year adding a little to the top of the 

 nest, so that nests frequently become two feet high or 

 more. The nest is hollowed out a little on top, and the 

 eggs, usually two, are deposited on the bare earth. 



