i9 01 - Patten. — The Grey Phalurope. 57 



Many accounts have been given by Irish ornithologists of 

 the habits of the Grey Phalarope, and much interesting infor- 

 mation is to be found in the late Mr. Thompson's " Natural 

 History of Ireland." From the pages of his book I derive the 

 following extracts as being of special interest : — " A Phalarope 

 shot near Belfast as long ago as 1818 was wounded in the wing 

 and came into the possession of Mr. John Sinclaire. He kept 

 it on his pond for some months. It was fed on worms, was 

 very tame, and its buoyancy on the water met with the 

 highest admiration." 



In 1 83 1 the late Mr. Montgomery wrote ''The first one I 

 saw close by the edge of a river, and knew it to be a stranger by 

 its graceful movements ; it dipped it shead often and seemed to 

 be feeding, was very tame, and showed no fear when we came 

 within twenty yards." The same writer afterwards observed 

 a pair of these birds, and said " I was amused with their liveli- 

 ness in sipping the water and playing round each other in a 

 circling and graceful manner." About the same time Mr. T. W. 

 Warren obtained a Phalarope from Kingstown Pier, Dublin 

 Bay. We learn that " Ics beauty, together with the animation 

 and gracefulness of its motions attracted his admiration." 

 Thompson mentions an instance of a Phalarope observed in a 

 river near Belfast. "The bird beat very quickly with its feet 

 in swimming, and nodded its head very much." A fowler, in 

 1844, describes two Phalaropes, which he saw on the Conns- 

 water, as " proud-looking little birds, light as corks on the 

 water. Their movements were extraordinary quick as they 

 wheeled about from one side to the other to pick up objects, 

 quicker than an eddy of wind would waft a feather." 



The late Mr. Watters 1 drew attention to the fact that in 

 America the Phalarope is gregarious in winter. He states that 

 the American ornithologist, Audobon,- observed large flocks 

 frequenting the neighbourhoodof the Ohio and Arkansas rivers. 

 Hundreds were also to be seen far out at sea, assembling on 

 the banks of seaweed. 



Summary on the occtirrences of the Grey Phalarope in Ireland. 

 — In no sense can this bird be considered as a really rare 

 species in Ireland. It is an occasional visitor in autumn and 

 winter. When it occurs it often comes in small flocks, and 



1 " Birds of Ireland," 1850, p. 170. - Ornithological Biography, iir.,p. 404. 



