376 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



snails and insects, together with such small fish as they catch 

 upon the edges of the water, to which they add a quanity of 

 gravel and coarse sand. They are not seen to dive, except 

 when wounded ; then they make their way under water to the 

 grass or reeds, and then swim for the nearest shore, where, not- 

 withstanding the awkward appearance of their legs and feet, 

 they walk with firmness, and run, if necessary, with great ex- 

 pedition. They probably breed in the State occasionally ; 

 Nuttall mentions that a pair took up their residence in Fresh 

 pond in April, and in June were seen accompanied by their 

 young ; but their nests and eggs have not been found in this, 

 nor, I believe, in any of the states of the Union. 



The Red Phalarope. Phalaropus fulicarius, visits us on its 

 return from the north in autumn ; but they are seldom seen in. 

 Massachusetts. Audubon mentions that once, when sailing in 

 a packet sixty miles from Nantucket, the vessel encountered a 

 bed of seaweeds and froth, on which were hundreds of red 

 phalaropes, walking with as much ease and confidence as if on 

 shore. 



The Hyperborean Phalarope, Phalaropus hyperboraeus, 

 is, as its name implies, a northern bird, seldom seen farther 

 south than New York. Dr. Brewer tells me that he has pro- 

 cured them here in May, but they are more abundant toward 

 the Bay of Fundy. None are seen in the interior ; and they 

 are found in the greatest numbers on the banks of seaweed, 

 floating on the ocean, at great distances from the shore. 



Wilson's Phalarope, Phalaropus Wilsonii^is a rare visiter, 

 which, Dr. Brewer tells me, I may insert on the authority of 

 Audubon, who has found it in various places along the eastern 

 coast, from Boston to New Jersey ; but it is not sufficiently 

 common to have its history well understood. 



The Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus, is a bird which 

 breeds in the fur countries, and is seen here late in the season 



