The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-04-07
4 FlAM|NGo CITY
HAS Been FOUND
tome OF These Rare Birds Is
Discovered in a Remote
Bahama islet.
IN INTERESTING SIGHT
oIoit of ornithoIoe;.t Chapman on
vi. Tour Of Investigating the
Bird Famiiy-Name Of the
Island 10 Kept Secret.

Bird Famiiy-Mame Of the
island Is Kept Secret.
Kansas City Journal: Few Who
ause before the new fiainingo group
I the American museum OF natural his
DRY hat have any idea that 1t rep
psents Il noteworthy achievement, OF
anthology.
Since the stua.. Of orniunoloxy arose,
lie tiatningo metropolis was one of the
,hief undiscovered cities of birdland.
other great capitals OF the bird world
we're explored and photograpled-the
Instant F%arallones In the Pacific. where
~nillions of gulls, puff1ns and cormorants
ongiegate; ShOal lake, the northwest
in capital of the marsh birds: Pyra-
MD lake and Pelican Stand. both cap
tails of the pelican folk: Cobb's Island,
he Virginia metropolis of the seabirds:
Gardeners island. a populous tishhaWk
;ity, IL nan other bird cities scat
cred over the face of the earth. But
he metropolis OF the fiamingo folk re-
aained the Lhasa of birdland, the north
'ole of the ornithologist. Shyest of
'irds. building it's nest on remote trop-
cal islets. no white mar had ever seen
he tialningo's breeding place.
The picture of this possible city, as
uggested by sentiment rows of the
brilliant birds outlinde against the blue
Il tropical seas and skies, has haunted
he naturalists of the world. What Il
ird city would that be. with thousands
# these flaming forms collected within
Is boundaries!
For years this vision tormented
crank Chapman. bird mar at the
american museum, until in 1902 he
nade his first trip to the Bahamas in
earch of the reality. He found Il city
nd counted 1000 dwellings. But all
we're empty. No one in the world knew
vhen the wise bird nestled. Moving
.ay had come, and parents n children
we're all dispersed.
When ! counted those 1000 nests in
space of so by 100 Yards" said MI.
,hapman, II knew that / should never
est again until l had seen the most
1riking sight in the bird world
For two years this sight tormented
lis dreams. He worried over it in his
leep.
He established relations with one of
he twelve white inhabitants of the
land of the flamingoes. What island
his Is Mr. Chapman does not tell. He
s keeping the secret of the tiaIningo
OH.
Negro scouts We're sent out TO locate
he tlamingo city. All returned unsuc-
'essful but one, faithful Peter. When
'eter reported the discovery of the
:ity, The word fled over the wires TO
rlr. Chapman, then in Florida.
He started Immediately for the is
and in a schooner. there being no
teamer service. For nine horrible days
hey beat against calms. squalls and
iead winds, la and finally in "a rain
torn which precipitated six inches of
moisture in Two hours. Then three
lays more they spent in rowboats,
threading channels and tiny
49, JaaES 1r,n n alollngx .,zl
>anks And wastes of mari and mango
wamp. Twelve days, and who knew
nut the little tiamingoes would be
latched and gone.
They searched the point where Peter
rad located the t%ian?ingo city. II was
ust behind a low screen of woods, he
aid.
The ornitiloiogist crept through those
ow woods in a state of excitement
which amounted 10 physical pain. Was
t possible that the expectation of wears
vas about TO be realized?
No, a ruined city lay on the other
ide of the woods. Nests washed
way, hundreds of broken eggs. showed
low disastrous the storm which had
listed the bird city. The disappoint-
nent was acute.
AS a last hope Peter was sent away
@ the old city of 1902. Upon his re-.
urn Joy rcigned in the %rowboats. The
econd city, on higher ground than the
irst, had escaped the flood. and the
lainingoes We're there.
The party landed on the only point
# solid sand large enough 10 hold
heir tent, although they could reach a
.and into the water on either side. Not
bird MAS near. but Peter pointed
'ver the waste of mud to a low living
INK cloud z mile a~way-just a flush
Il pink on the ground.
Inc o~rnithologist plunged through
1 he mud. aWAOinp S1nShi,y
n ten minutes he had reached a point
where the glass resolved the pipk clond
nto pink oirds. An indesclibable feel
hg OF eNultation possessed him.
sndoenlS a deep honk sounded the
loud moved upward.
The earth seemed to cisch,ros
lrds.' says Mr.. Chapman.
IN Il naming stream they poured 10 a
agoon not far away. Twice they swent
oward the ~intruders in a compact. al
most terrifying mass, but wheele n a,1d
'eturned without attacking.
h next morning Mr.. and Mrs. Chan
nan returned. and the birds fed as be-
ore. MI. Chapman hastily raised his
blind. 1t was a large umbrella with
I drapery or valance seWed around the
bottom. SO that when opened and the
iaIiole STUCK IN the ground, it made a
title round tent. colored a greenish
,ray.
Mrs. started back TO the
,oat. Mr.. Chapman crept inside the
Umbrella, a prey to intolerable anxiety.
Would the birds return?
Twice they swept towards Mrs. Chan
nan and back to their lagoon. Then
t was proved hat the fiamingo cannot
cunt two. Their reconnaissance showed
! moving figure growing smaller in the
distance. Their education had been ne
elected. They could not tell that two
lad come and only one had gone.
They returned to their home. and to
he ornithologist's intense astonish-
nent they returned on foot, a stately
trmy Of rosy forms marching steadily
.cross the mud flats. h faminpo
ioes everything with dignity except his
.ating, when he stands on his head.
A forest of slim necks waved in the
iir as each bird touched her own nest
lightly with her bill. Then they burst
nto conversation. each bird telling ali
The knew about the whole thing at the
.op of her voice.
Every bird hoped into her own nest.
stood perfectly upright for a moment
and then peacefully resumed the pro-
less of incubating. Meanwhile there
Has an ornithologist inside an umbrella
Utmost crazy with excitement, taking
photographs like mad.
The second morning he moved his
blind into the very heart re fbo lie.