THE AMERICAN FLAMINGO. 231 
erally skirt the low grounds near the shore, are se- 
lected as their resort. The nests are placed some- 
times two or three upon the same tree, but seldom 
more. In whatever position they build, it is said 
that the nests always front the water, and very often 
overhang it. These communities seem very social in 
their disposition, living upon good terms with the 
Night Herons, Green Herons, and Grakles which 
have their nests near by. 
We cannot close our notices of the Grallatores with- 
out a brief description of that gorgeously plumaged 
bird, the American Flamingo. Although extremely 
rare, and seldom seen within our territory except 
upon the most southern extremity of Florida, and 
upon the little islands which skirt its coast, it seems 
entitled to a place among those which annually visit us 
from the south. 
This elegant bird is about four feet in height, and 
is wholly of a bright scarlet color, with the exception 
of the primaries and a part of the secondaries, which 
are black. Its habits are very similar to those of the 
Waders in general; its flight consists of alternate sail- 
ing and flapping of the wings, the neck and legs be- 
ing both extended to the utmost. The nest of the 
Flamingo is a curious structure ; it is built in the 
midst of the shallow water of some salt-pond, the 
mud being heaped up into a pile about two or three 
feet high, on the top of which a hollow is scooped 
out, where the female lays two white eggs about the 
size of those of a goose. In covering the eggs dur- 
ing incubation, she is obliged to stand with one foot 
