332 PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



This species, known among writers botii as the Gray and as the Red-necked Phala- 

 rope — the one name having been suggested by its winter plumage, the other by the 

 brio-ht colors which adorn its svimmer dress — is common to both continents, breeding 

 in the high Arctic regions of Asia, Europe, and America in the early summer, and 

 from August to the latter part of May wandering irregularly over a large portion of 

 the northern hemisphere. 



Ml-. K. Swinhoe nicntions having procured specimens of this bird in November 

 near Ape's Hill, in Formosa. It was sitting and floating, washing itself in a little 

 stream, and its movements are spoken of as being both pleasing and graceful. At 

 Tamsay, March 14. hv procured three others from a flock which was feeding on the 

 shoals of the river; and lie afterward met with this species on the Island of Hainan. 

 As he was leaving Hung-pe, four of these birds flew toward the ship and sat floating 

 on the water close to her. He afterward, April 4, on the shore of the Lunchow 

 Peninsula, saw another, which he secured. A single specimen is said (" Ibis," 1867, 

 p. 169) to have been taken by Mr. Wallace in one of the Arm Islands. The natural- 

 ists of Perry's Expedition to Japan procured specinrens of this bird from the Island 

 of Niphon. 



Although a northern ])ird in its breeding, this species makes its appearance in 

 warmer regions immediately upon the close of its season of reproduction. Mr. Salvin 

 met with four of this species at Duefias, in Guatemala, in August, 1859. They had 

 apparently but just arrived, and were SAvimming slowly about on the lake, picking at 

 the weeds, and showing the usual absence of timidity pecidiar to these birds. 



Middendorff speaks of this species as being abundant in Siberia, and includes it in 

 his list of those birds which penetrate to the extreme north. Von Heuglin found it 

 at the beginning of September on Nova Zembla, already dressed in its autumnal plu- 

 mage ; also on Waygatz Island, where it Avas gathered in family parties of six or more, 

 on shalloAV fresh-Avater pools. Mr. C. W. Shepherd found it breeding in great numbers 

 on the small islands in the Lake of My-vatu, in the north of Iceland. The young 

 birds — ''tiny little pieces of animated avooI " — Avere A'ery beautiful ; and the old 

 birds Avere so tame that they were caught in tlie landing-net like butterflies, as they 

 flew around, Avhile the hens sat still, brooding their little ones within a fcAV feet 

 of him. 



Professor NcAvton also mentions finding this bird A^ery common all over Iceland, 

 on all the ponds and lakes, arriving late in May, and at once beginning the duties of 

 nidification. On one occasion, in the month of June, he saAv a flock of at least a 

 hundred sitting on the surf, betAveen the breaking Avaves and the shore. 



Although Mr. Wheehvright found this species far more common in Scandinavia 

 than the fulicmmis, he does not think that they breed anywhere excepting in the 

 Lapland fell-valleys. They breed commonly at Quickiok. The eggs, four in number, 

 he describes as being of a pale olive-green color, and covered with large and small 

 black-broAvn spots. He found but little dift'erence betAveen the eggs of this species 

 and those of the fvllcariuf;, except that the latter are slightly larger. 



Yarrell states that this bird is much less rare in England than the Eed of the 

 same species ; but the latter is more common in the northern islands of Scotland. 

 Mr. Salmon. Avho \dsited the Orkneys in the summer of 1831, says of this bird, as 

 quoted by Yarrell : " This beautiful little bird appeared to be very tame ; although 

 we shot two pair, those that were swimming about did not take the least notice of 

 the report of the gun ; and they seemed to be much attached to each other, for Avhen 

 one of them fleAv to a short distance, the other directly folloAved ; and AAdiile I held a 

 female that Avas wounded, in my hand, its mate came and fluttered before my face. 



