The Grenada gazette., 1888-02-18
FLAMINGOES AT. HOME.
The Brilliant PlumBge Of the Most Beau
tiiui Of Tropical Birds.

The Brilliant Fiumage Of the Most Beau.
tiiui Of Tropical Birds.
A walk Of about an hour brought us
to small clump of trees. from behind
which VIC carefully reconnoitercd. and
there within half a mile, we saw the
birds. Very lovely the pink mass
looked in the bright sunlight. There
we're three separate clusters of nests,
every one of which was occupied.
while the male birds stood around.
their heals raised high. as they evi.
IDENTIFY suspected mischief. As ! could
not clearly make out with my glasses
the position of the legs Of the sitting
birls there was nothing for it but long
stalk over the intervening Sob. and with
the blazing sun now almost vertical.
The first quarter of a mile was com.
parativcly easy, as VIC could creep on
our hands and knees; but then we
came TO a point where nothing but
vermicular motion could avail us, and
for real hard work let me recommend
it to those who are content with very
active exercise without attaining .
high rate Of progression. The tropic.
al sun beat down upon us. hatless as
we now were. from a cloudless sky;
but l suppose that our profuse per.
,pirai,n saved us from any Ill effects;
the rapid evaporation counteracting
the suns heat. 1t may be that I was
too anxious about reaching q favora.
BILE point of observation 10 think Of it,
but l can no; say that l even suffered
any Inconvenience.
At length. having crawled under the
roots Of the dwarf mangroves that
covered the slob like 4 network of
cro0uet hoops. we found ourselves at
the edge of the mari and within l5C
yards of the birds, who were still un.
disturbed. Here. with my glasses, |
could see 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. aud n continuous. low goose.
like cackling was kept up. Never did
! see y more beautiful mass of color
The male hii,lS had now all got to
gcthcr, standing about five feet high,
aud with nccks extended and heads
erect were evidently watching events,
preserving in the meantime IL master.
ly 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.
Tho hens So. on the most. and some
were sitting down IN the muddy Ia.
goOn. Watched them carefully for
nearly al hour. and looked ut every |
nest to ace IL the legs were extended |
along the side. In no case did see a
leg. saw the birds 60 on to the nest
and sit down. Isaw them get up and
step down from the nest. In every
instance the legs were folded under
the bird In the usual manner In nv
opinion my observation settles the
point as to the mode Of sitting; for
even II, as ] had been assured, tho
birds sit both ways It Is improbable
that among the hundreds then sitting
not one would have extended its legs.
Remembering the length Of the
legs. 1t Is evident that on a
new nest. not more than eight inches
high. the hen could not sit, nor would
oven tho highest nest allow Of the legs
being extended while I,e bird sn, uDu,
It. t-AinetNc'.b Century,