YOUNG FLAMINGOS IN THE POSE OF GROWN BIRDS 
The flamingos were less fortunate. The 
evidently excessive rainfall had flooded 
even the comparatively high ground on 
which their rookery was placed. Some 
nests were submerged (my own particular 
nest had already crumbled before the un- 
accustomed usage to which it had been sub- 
jected), and all were surrounded by water. 
The necessity of erecting a structure of 
some height was thus plainly demonstrated. 
This second catastrophe to a nesting 
colony emphasized the adverse climatic 
conditions with which flamingos have to 
contend during the nesting season. Lay- 
ing but one egg, it is probable that under 
favorable circumstances they can barely 
hold their own, and it is therefore to be 
deplored that man should be numbered 
among their enemies. 
To my regret, our search for flamingos 
so widely advertised the location of the 
rookery among the negroes of the island 
that more than a dozen expeditions were 
planned to visit it for young birds. 
Fresh meat is rarer than pink 
pearls in the outer Bahama isl- 
ands. Young flamingos are 
excellent eating, and are, con- 
sequently, much sought after. As a result 
of this persecution on the nesting-ground, 
they are steadily diminishing in numbers, 
and the passage of a law designed to pro- 
tect them is greatly to be desired. 
Our camp site was now barely habi- 
table, and it became obvious that if the 
rains continued we should soon be afloat. 
Confidence in the life-preserving qualities 
of our pneumatic mattresses permitted us 
to sleep undismayed by the /af, Zap of wa- 
ters at our threshold; but more valuable, 
almost, than life itself were our photo- 
graphic plates and specimens, and it was 
therefore determined to break camp and 
return to the schooner. In spite of the 
disagreeable surroundings, the swash was 
left reluctantly. My work, however, was 
virtually ended. I had enjoyed an ex- 
perience unparalleled in the annals of 
ornithology, had made twelve dozen pho- 
tographs and pages of detailed notes, 
and had secured material adequate to 
represent the home life of flamingos in a 
group to be exhibited in the 
Museum which had intrusted 
me with this mission to a little- 
known country. 
