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virotridce, Stilts and Avocets, of only casual occurrence in eastern Canada; 

 ScolopacidcB, Snipes and Sandpipers, constituting the bulk of our species; 

 Charadriidce, Plover; Aphrizidoe, Turnstones; and Haematopodid(B,Oyster- 

 catchers, once casual now probably extinct within our eastern borders. 



Economic Status. Most of the order inhabit waste land and are of 

 little economic injfluence ; others, frequenting cultivated fields, are of 

 greater importance and will be discussed under their specific headings. On 

 the whole, however, the order is either harmless or actively helpful to man. 



FAMILY — PHALAROPODID^. PHALAROPES. SEA SNIPES. 



General Description. Small birds between 7-75 and 8-75 inches long, wader-like in 

 form but with plumage dense and duck-hke. This, combined with their toes bordered with 

 web-lobes or edgings and flattened tarsi, makes them comparatively easy to recognize. 



Distinctions. Small waders characterized as above. Cannot be mistaken for any- 

 thing else. 



Field Marks. Size, bill characteristics, and the habit of swimming and feeding in deep 

 water. These are the only Shore Birds that habitually swim. 



Nesting. On ground, nest lined with a few mosses or grasses. 



Distribution. Northern and western. One species breeds in the lower prairie provinces, 

 the other two along the Arctic coasts and adjoining islands. Regular migrants along the 

 Atlantic coast of eastern Canada and down the Mississippi valley, but merely stragglers in 

 the Great Lakes region. 



The Phalaropes constitute a small anomalous family of Shore Birds 

 whose true affinities are hardly well understood or settled. They swim 

 with ease and are often found in the open water, even out at sea, where 

 they are as much at home as any pelagic species. 



Anomalous in structure and systematic relationships, they are equally 

 so in habits. The female instead of the male is the bright-coloured repre- 

 sentative of the family circle and she takes the initative in courting rites; 

 makes the first advance towards her shy and modestly-coloured prospective 

 mate and upon fulfilling her duties of egg deposition leaves the further cares 

 of incubation and family raising to him. 



Economic Status. Inhabit water or waste shores and are of Httle or no 

 economic importance. 



222. Red Phalarope. gery phalarope, whale bird. fr. — le phalarope roux. 

 Phalaropus fulicarius. L, 8 • 12. Adult female is easily recognized by the even, dull reddish 

 brown of the foreneck and underparts. The back is light ochre and black in stripes. The 

 male is similar, but the colours veiled, broken, and less distinct. In winter this species is 

 slate-grey above and white below. 



Distinctions. The Red Phalarope can be easily distinguished from either of the other 

 two members of the family by its bill and feet, the former comparatively broad and flat. 

 Toes webbed at base and with projecting scalloped lobes on either side. See following 

 species. 



Field Marks. General habits and habitat. In breeding season colour is best niark 

 of recognition. At sea this species is said to show more black on top of head and in wings 

 than the other phalaropes. In other than full plumage the comparatively short and 

 flattened biU is perhaps the best point for identification. 



Distribution. Breeds along the whole Arctic coast of America, migrating down the sea 

 coasts on either side; rare inland in Great Lakes region. 



223. Northern Phalarope. red-necked phalarope. fr. — le phalarope hyper- 

 BOREEN. Lobipes lobatus. L, 7-75. Adult female: upperparts, back of neck, and head 

 dark slaty; throat and below, white; sides of neck meeting on front of lower neck, rich 

 rufous, with hnes of same along back over closed wing. Male similar but veiled and re- 



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