Sharp County record., 1888-02-23
FLAMlNGOES AT HOME.
The Brilliant PIumage of the Most Beau
tirul of Tropical Birds.

Tho Brilliant Plumage of the Most Beau
tirul of Tropical Birds.
A walk of about an hour brought us
to q small clump of trees, from behind
which we carefully rcconnoitcred, and
there, within half u mile, we saw the
birds. Very lovely the pink mass
looked in the bright sunlight. There
were three separate clusters of nests,
every one Of which was occupied,
while the male birds stood around,
their heals raised high, as they evi-
IDENTITY suspected mischief. As | could
not clearly make out with my glasses
the position Of the legs of the sitting
birds there was nothing for it but a long
stalk over the intervening Sob, and with
the blazing sun now almost vertical.
The first quarter of q mile was COM
paratively easy, as we could creep on
our hands and knees; but then we
came to point where nothing bu
yermi cular motion could avail us, and
for real hard work let me recommend
il to those who are content with very
active exercise without attaining
high rate of progression. The tropic-
al sun beat down upon us, hatless Us
we now were, from n cloudIess sky;
but l suppose that our profuse per-
spiration saved lis from any i'll effects;
the rapid evaporation counteracting
the suns heat. 1t may be that | was
too anxious about reaching favora-
bic point of observation to think of it,
but | can not say that | even suffered
any Inconvenience
At length, having crawled under the
roots of the dwarf mangroves that
covered the slob like q network of
croquet hoops, we found ourselves at
the edge of the mari and within $50
yards of the birds, who were still un-
disturbed. Here, with my glasses, L
cpuld =. every feather, note the color
of the eyes, and watch every move
ment There were, we calculated, be-
tween seven hundred and q thousand
birds, and q continuous, low goose
like cackling was kept up. Never did
| see more beautiful mass of color.
The male birds had now all got to-
gether, standing about five feet high,
and with necks extended and heads
erect were evidently watching events,
preserving in the meantime q master.
" inactivity. Now and again one
would stretch out his great black and
scarlet wings, but the general effect
was the most exquisite shade of pink,
as the feathers of the breast and back
are much lighter than those of the
wings.
The hens sat on the nest, and some
were sitting down in the muddy la
goon. watched them carefully for
nearly an hour, and looked at every
nest to see if the legs were extended
along the side. In no case did l see a
lee. / saw tile birds 90 on to the nest
and sit down. saw them get up and
step down from the nest. In every
instance the legs were folded under
the bird in the usual manner. In my
opinion my observation settles the
point as to the mode of sitting; for
even if, rs l had been assured, the
birds sit both ways, it is improb Ible
that among the hundreds then sitting
not one would have extended its legs.
Remembering the length of the
hamingo's legs, it is evident that on a
new nest, not more than eight inches
high, the hen could not sit, nor would
even the highest nest allow of the legs
being extended while the bird sat upon
II, -~Nineteenh Centarv.