418 
LAMELLIROSTRAL GRALLATORES — PHCENICOPTERI. 
the most part in shallow water, and rarely on the land. Its walk is slow and stiff ; 
and it moves with great caiition, its height enabling it to watch for the approach of 
enemies. In flying over water it rarely rises higher than ten feet ; but in crossing 
land it always increases its elevation. 
Mr. A. Mallory — as quoted by Mr. Audubon — writes, in 1837, that the Flamin- 
goes were then breeding on the Keys near Matanzas. He describes the nests as being 
built on the ground, and as irregular masses of earth placed in salt ponds, surrounded 
by water and two or three feet above it, their tops being hollowed out, and without 
lining. 
The number of eggs is always two, and they are described as being white, about the 
size of those of a Goose, showing, when scraped, a bluish tinge within. The young are 
said to be white at first, and not to attain their full scarlet color until they are two 
years old. They take at once to the water, and cannot walk until tAvo Aveeks after 
they are hatched. Mr. Audubon describes an egg procured from Cuba by Dr. Bach- 
man as measuring 3§ inches in length by 2| in breadth, of an elongated shape, pure 
white externally, and of a bluish tint where the surface has been scraped. The 
shell is described as being rough, granidated, and rather thick. 
Dr. Bryant found the Bahamas a favorite resort of the Flamingo, and saw im- 
mense numbers of them at different localities. He heard of three breeding-places, 
but Avas unable to visit them, owing to ill health ; these were the Bight of Bahama, 
Andros Island, and Inagua. The same observer had seen it stated in the “ Natural- 
ist in Bermuda ” that this bird does not sit on its nest with its legs hanging down on 
each side ; but all the persons he questioned in regard to this statement — and they 
were quite a number, there being among them several very intelligent persons — gave 
him the same account of its nesting ; namely, that the nest is built of clay or marl, 
and that it is raised gradually, the bird waiting for one layer to dry before applying 
another, and that when completed the nest has a conical form, resembling a sugar- 
loaf in shape, and being slightly excavated at the top ; also that the bird sits on 
it with its legs hanging down on each side. The breeding-places are in shalloAv 
lagoons, at a distance from the shore ; and as the bottom is a tenacious clay, they 
can only be approached with great exertion. The eggs, when fresh, are pure Avhite, 
have a smooth feeling to the touch even when the surface exhibits numerous slight 
depressions, and resemble plaster models rather than eggs. They are of an extremely 
elongated shape, and taper at one end, varying greatly in size. One taken by Dr. 
Bachman at Matanzas, Cuba, measures 3.40 inches by 2.00 ; another, also from Cuba, 
3.80 inches by 2.11. Tavo procured in the Bahamas measure, one 3.55 inches by 2.08, 
the other 3.63 inches by 2.20. 
