D. P. INGRAHAM. 65 



integrated coral, so soft that with one hand I could set 

 a pole two fathoms down in the mud, and so sticky that 

 one cannot wash the mud from anything without rub- 

 bing it. Although the water in these bays is so shallow, 

 much of it being not above eighteen inches deep, yet it is 

 so permeated with this soft white mud, which is stirred 

 up by the action of the waves, that it is impossible to see 

 the bottom, and after a day or two of more than usually 

 heavy wind the whole bay reminds one of a large bowl of 

 milk. 



When about halfway across this bay — it being ebb tide — 

 our boat stuck in the mud and we could go no further. 

 After lowering sail, I climbed to the masthead to learn if 

 anything could be seen. Almost to the east of us, where 

 the then setting sun reflected the light to the best advantage, 

 was a long line of red extending fully a half mile, reminding 

 one of a prairie fire at night. I doubt whether De Soto felt 

 any more pride when he first saw the broad waters of the 

 Mississippi than I did at the sight before me. I took off 

 my hat and swung it and shouted " The Flamingoes ! the Fla- 

 mingoes ! " It was then that I first recognized the import of 

 the word Flamingo — flame-colored. I had spent fully two 

 months each of the two preceding years, to find these birds ; 

 and I now felt I almost had them in my grasp — a vain de- 

 lusion ! 



As it was too late for any work that night, the flock being 

 fully four miles away, we prepared for an early start next 

 morning. Breakfast was over long before daylight, and as 

 soon as we could see we were in our little boat, headed for 

 the flock, with the expectation, if we could not get near 

 enough to reach them in this way, to go ashore, cover our 

 boat with bushes, and try the same plan that we adopted a 

 few days before in Caximbas Bay. When more than half a 

 mile from them the birds rose on wing, and after turning 

 about a few times, flew to the extreme further part of the bay, 

 and alighted. The flock consisted of not less than 2,500 



