1901. Patten. — The Grey Phalarope. 55 



away in the distance, when I did not identify it. I knew, 

 however, that it was something out of the common. Ap- 

 proaching cautiously, I brought to my aid a binocular, which 

 I invariably take with me when out observing. Presently I 

 recognised what the bird was, and knowing its tameness to 

 be proverbial, I advanced closer and closer until I halted at 

 about fifteen yards' distance from it. I was so near that there 

 was no further occasion for the use of my field-glass. The 

 Phalarope took no notice of me, never minded me, or even 

 looked at me. It appeared quite unconcerned at my intrusion. 

 It was really a great treat to watch its movements. Bright 

 and lively the little creature appeared to be as it pattered 

 about on the grass bank at a rapid rate in a zig-zag course, 

 now and again retracing its steps. Clpse by was a shallow 

 pool of clear water, the result of a recent heavy rainfall. To 

 this the Phalarope often resorted. The area of the pool was 

 but a few square yards, nevertheless I was able to form some 

 notion of the habits of the bird as it swam about. The agility 

 with which it quitted the bank and rushed into the water was 

 truly amazing, and when swimming it displayed a greater 

 buoyancy and grace than many other kinds of web-footed birds. 

 It hardly seemed to touch the water, its breast showing full and 

 round above the surface. The day was breezy, and so the 

 water was agitated into ripples or wavelets. These the 

 Phalarope crested with the lightness of a cork. Food was 

 procured chiefly from the surface of the water, from which 

 objects were picked up with great rapidity. The nodding 

 movements of the head were very apparent. Many observers 

 have on other occasions noted this rapid motion of the head 

 as the bird seeks for food. Twice I saw it snapping at flies. To 

 try and capture the insects it rose, on each occasion vertically, 

 for about twelve inches from the water, and having gained 

 its end, it flopped back again on to the surface of the pool. 



Once I saw the Phalarope turning sharply round, apparently 

 in pursuit of some aquatic insect. Mr. Ussher 1 describes this 

 movement graphically. He says " It sometimes sweeps round 

 like a feather whirled by the wind." I continued to watch 

 this interesting bird until darkness set in, and with the last 



1 " Birds of Ireland," p. 267. (1900.) 



A 2 



