Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-06-19
ELAMlNeoEs AT HOME.
Tho Brilliant Plumage of the Most Bear
tirul of Tropical Birds.

Tho Brilliant Plumage of the Most beau
tihil of Tropical Birds.
A wnlk of about IN hour brought us
to n small clump of trees, from behind
which we carefully rcconnoitercd. and
there, within half . milo, VIC saw tho
birds. Very lovely tho pink mass
looked in the bright sunlight. There
wcrc three separate clusters of nests,
every ono of which was occupied.
while tho male birds stood around.
their heals raised high. as they evil
IDENTITY suspected mischief As ! could
not clearly make out with my glasses
tho position of tho legs of tho sitting
birds there was nothing for il but long
stalk over the intervening slob, and with
the blazing sun now almost vertical
The first quarter of mile was conf
paratively easy, as we could creep on
our hands and knees; but then We
came to n point where nothing but
yormi cular motion could avail us, and
for real hard work lot mo recommend
il to those who are content with very
active exercise without attaining g
high rate of progression. The tropic-
nj sun beat down upon us, hatless rs
we now were, from u cloudess sky;
but l suppose that our profuse per-
spiration saved us from any i'll effects;
tho rapid evaporation counteracting
the SUMS heat. 1t may be that was
too anxious about reaching n favora-
bic point of observation TO think of it,
but / can not say that oven suffered
any Inconvenience.
At length, having crawlcd under tho
roots of the dwarf mangroves that
covered the slob like network OF
croauet hoops, we found ourselves at
the edge of tho mari and within 100
wards of the birds, who were still un-
disturbed. Here, with my glasses, l
could sec ovcry feather, noto tho color
of the eyes, and watch every move
mcnt. There were, we calculated, be-
tween seven hundred and thousand
birds, and continuous, low goose
like cackling was kept up Never did
SEQ u 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 wero evidently watching events,
preserving in tho meantime master-
| iy inactivity. Now and. again one
| would stretch out his great black and
scarlet wings, but tho general effect
was the most exquisite shade of pink.
\ as tho feathers of the breast and back
arc much lighter than those OF the
wings.
The hens sat on tho nest, and some
wero sitting down in the muddy la
COON. Watched them carefully fol
nearly an hour and looked at every
nest to see II tho legs were cxtcndod
along the side. In no case did sec
leg. / saw the birds go on to the nest
and sit down. i saw them get up and
step down from the most. In every
instance tho legs were folded under
tho bird in the usual manner In my
opinion my observation settles Tho
point MS to the mode of sitting; fol
! even II, as I-had been assured. 'ht
birds sit both ways it Is improbable
that among the hundreds thcn sitting
not ono wouldrhavc extended its legs.
Remembering tho length of Tho
ilamingo's logs II is evident thst on
new nest, not more than eight inches
high, the hen could not sit, nor would
even tho highest nest allow Of tho leg
being extended while tho bird sat upoI
! it--Niaeteenn Ctntary.