AMERICAN PHALAROPE. 245 



AMERICAN PHALAROPE. 



(Phalaropus Wilsonii, Sabine, Zool. Append. Franklin's Exped. p. 

 C91. BoNAP. Synops. No. 279. &c. et Am. Orn. iv. p. 59. pi. 24. 

 fig. 1. [adult.] and pi. 25. fig. 1. [young.] R,ichard, North. Zool. 

 ii. p. 405. pi. 09. P.frenatus, Vieill. Gal. Ois. ii. p. 178. pi. 271. 

 P. jimbriatus, Temm. PI. Color. 370. [bad.] Lobipes incamis, Sel- 

 BY and Jard. Orn. Illust. i. Syn. sp. 3. 1. 16. [young.] Phalaropus 

 lobatus, Ord. in Wilsox, ix. p. 72. pi. 73. fig. 2. [bad.] Phil. Mu- 

 seum, No. . . . [adult.]) 



Sp. Charact. — Bluish-grey, beneath white; an elongated chest- 

 nut patch confluent on the back, and a black curving band on 

 each side of the neck. — Winter plumage unknown. Young dus- 

 ky-brown, centres of the feathers darker ; beneath white ; sides of 

 the neck tinged with rufous, but accompanied with no black line. 



This elegant Phalarope, first noticed by Wilson, in a 

 museum at Albany, was afterwards dedicated to his name 

 and memory, when now no longer conscious of the honor. 

 Hurried to the tomb from amidst his unfinished and ill re- 

 quited labors, his favorite Orpheus and Wood Thrush, pour 

 out their melody in vain. The Blue Bird, which hastens to 

 inform us of the return of spring, and of the approach of 

 flowers, delights no longer the favorite of their song. Like 

 his own beautiful and strange bird, now before us, his tran- 

 sient visit, which delighted us, has ended ; but his migra- 

 tion, no longer to be postponed, has exceeded the bounds of 

 the earth ! and spring and autumn, with their wandering 

 hosts of flitting birds, may still return ; while he, translated 

 to the Elysian groves, will only be remembered in the thrill 

 of the plaintive nightingale ! ****** 



Wilson's Phalarope, unlike the preceding, has no predi- 

 lection for the ultimate range of the Arctic circle, con- 

 fining its residence consequently to the shores of America, 

 it is unknown in summer beyond the 55th parallel, passing 

 21* 



