Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-11
TIE FLAMINGO CITIES
LECTURE ON BIRD LIFE IN THE
BARBADOS.

DR.. Frank NJ. Chapman of the American
Museum OF Natural History. New York
delivered a lecture last evening before the
members of the National Geographical So
ciety at the National Rifles Armory, taking
as his subject a Flamingo City and Bird
Life IN the Barbados" The lecturer Illus
trated his address with stereopticon coIored
views, which depicted the various bird life
as DR.. Chapman had viewed It and later
photographed it. Many times during the
course of the lecture, as the pictures Were
thrown upon the sceen, showing the in
genuity of the lecturer in getting within
photographing distance, there was loud
applause.
DIR. Chapmans observations of the ia
mingos We're in the Bahama Islands, and
with the aid of faithful negroes he sue
ceeded in studying to the best advantage
this fast decreasing bird, which many be-
lieve will not long be able to withstand
the onslaught of the natives in sections
where they build their nests and rear their
young.
In the beginning of the lecture DIR. Chap
man told of the coral formation of the
islands of the West Indian groups. and of
the different birds to be found there. He
told particularly OF the way the eggs were
secreted and of the operations of the negro
''sponger," the greatest enemy to the birds
In their domestic lie.
Model for Flying Machine.
DIR. Chapman called attention to the fact
that the fiamngo is the easiest flyer APP
parently to the bird species and said n the
flying machine, which many are attempt
ing to perfect, would only be modelled upon
the order of the perfect wings of the ia
mingo. he believed that aerial navigation
would be accomplished In short time.
COlOrpd Ster0DticOQ views
DR.. Chapman told of his trip taken some
time ago to the Bahamas in search of
fiamingo city where he could dwell for
short time and study the habits of the bird
While lying off the Florida keys In a
schooner DR.. Chapman was informed that
his friends In the Bahamas had managed
after great difficulty, to locate a fiamingo
city, and was asked to come that he
might have the opportunity of seeing the
bird at home
Setting sail, he landed after several days,
off the Bahamas. Later DIR. Chapman met
his friends. and several trusty natives were
sent him to accompany him on his trip to
the famngo city.
Nests Destroyed by Storm
After a sail OF several days more" DIR.
Chapman said I'VE came in sight OF as
curious a lot OF nests ii has ever been
my fortune to see, but on account of the
fact that an equinoctial storm had passed
over the section short time before IL
seemed as IL the entire group of nests had
been destroyed. Here and there the eggs
were found, which plainly showed that the
storm king had wrought havoc IN thedomi-
cile of the birds of the air. who, seemingly
to the heart Of nature, would be
naturally expected to build their nests
where the elements would not harm them.
The nests resembied very much over
turned washtub. and were in many cases
from eight to fourteen inches in height.
The lecturer explained that the reason for
thA hfrd hui Iyxr of orfh
far above the ground the fact that
sometimes rainfall TO the depth of six
inches or more occurred in short time,
and that the bird built Its nest high for
safety.
BY the aid of the illustrated slides DR..
Chapman told of another visit to ma =
mingo city, which was found later, and
where there were over 1000 nests, each
regularly placed as If soldiers had laid out
a tented field. DR.. Chapman took views OF
the city from the distance as he approach
ed and of the flight of the birds as they
took to wing. Later with the aid Of
blind he took many fine pictures of the
BIRDS which were shown last night. In
this fiamingo city DIR. Chapman remained
several days, and during his observations
of the various nests he found that only two
in the ZOO contained eggs.
Observations of the Young.
At the time he was In the city the eggs
began to hatch, and he had the opportunity
to take many photographs OF the young as
they were Matched and of the way the par
emit birds fed them In the early life. At the
close OF his remarks Dr. Chapman told In
detail of the early life of the young bird
when 1t has grown to be able to leave
the nest and seek its food without the aid
of the parents. He also said that within
the past year or so he had the pleasure OF
drafting bill for the protection OF the Ia
mineo In the Bahamas. This was done
after he had a talk with the governor OF
the islands on the subject of preserving the
bird The governor was very much fntef
ested, ana DIR. Chapman believes that b.
fore long the laws Of the Bahamas VIII :
Epongers who destroy the young and =
many cases the older birds IN great nufn-