i82 LOST AND VANISHING BIRDS 



The Red-necked Phalarope reaches its breeding 

 haunts in Scotland towards the end of April or 

 early in May. Here its favourite nesting-places 

 are on the banks of rush-fringed pools, which stud 

 the moors at no great distance from the sea. As 

 these places are visited year by year, it seems 

 probable that the bird may pair for life. This 

 Phalarope nests in scattered colonies, and through- 

 out the breeding season may be seen in companies 

 swimming on the water or standing or running 

 about the marshy moors. The nest is slight, and 

 either made upon the ground or a short distance 

 above it in a tuft of coarse grass or rushes. It is 

 little more than a hollow somewhat neatly lined 

 with dry grass or scraps of sedge leaves and reed. 

 The four pyriform eggs range from pale olive to 

 buff in ground colour, blotched and spotted with 

 umber brown, blackish brown, pale brown, and grey. 

 But one brood is reared in the year, and the eggs 

 are chiefly incubated by the male. It may be of 

 interest to remark that in this, as in some other 

 species, the female is larger and more showily 

 attired than the male ; she takes the initiative in 

 courtship, and leaves her mate to take the greatest 

 share in bringing up the brood. As possibly bear- 

 ing on this curious fact, we may mention that 



