180 ~ ‘ Bird-Lore
year older than the other. and by the fact that the birds were building fresh nests near numbers of others which were seemingly as good as new. The thousands of nests seen were built of mud, which the nests in proA cess of construction showed was scooped up from about their base. In fact, it is difficult to conceive of a Flamingo carrying mud In selecting a nest‘ ing site. therefore, the bird is governed by the condition of the ground, which. to be serviceable. must be soft and muddy For this reason, as I have suggested, the time of the breeding season may be regulated by that of
l-‘LAMINGU sis-rs AMONG MAxGRmEs Et-lieinl m hm been occupied in um
the rainy season: the heavy, tropical downpours not only moistening the earth but doubtless raising the water sufficiently. in this exceedingly low, Hat country, slightly to flood large areas. While the birds, therefore, must build near, or. indeed, in the water, they guard against complete sub— mergenee of their home by building it high enough to protect the egg from possible danger. The popular conception] of a Flamingo's nest makes it not more than six or eight inches in diameter at the base, whence it tapers to a truncate, hollowed top nearly two feet in height. I saw no nest, how- ever, over twelve inches high, and most of them were not over eight inches high. The average basal diameter was about thirteen inches, that of the top about ten inches.
