PHALAROPODHLE THE PHALAROPES. 81 



naked abdomen during the breeding season. The female always 

 remains near, and shows great solicitude upon the nests' being 

 approached. The first plumage of the young, described by Dr. 

 Coues on page 467, "Birds of the Northwest," is retained until 

 they depart for the south, the last of July or early in August. 

 The adults assume the winter plumage during July. This plum- 

 age is much like the breeding plumage of the male, except 

 that there is a hoary cast over the back and neck caused by 

 grayish tips to the feathers, and the female has a greater amount 

 of dull chestnut on the sides of the neck. 



"The nest is a simple structure of fine grass blades placed in 

 a small saucer-shaped depression, generally in a perfectly open 

 situation, where but slight concealment is afforded by the few 

 surrounding grass blades. Sometimes the eggs are deposited 

 directly upon the ground, without any nest other than the 

 slight hollow. The eggs usually number four and are very 

 dark. Their general appearance is much like that of a small 

 killdeer's egg, with an unusual amount of dark markings." 



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