156 



THE RED PHALAROPE. 



THE RED PHALAROPE. 



The Flat-billed, or Red Phalarope, inhabits the whole ^rctjv rrrin 

 during summer, where, in the security of solitude, it papsf^ the. import 

 ant period of reproduction. It is observed in the north ard east of 

 Europe; in abundance in Siberia, upon the banks of lakes and livers, 

 and it extends its vernal migrations to the borders of the Caspian They 

 abound in the hyperboreal regions of America, breeding on the North 

 Georgian Islands, and the remote and wintry coasts of Mellville 

 Peninsula. The late enterprising and scientific northern navigators, 

 on the 10th of June, in the latitude of 68°, saw a company of these 

 little daring voyagers out at lea, four miles from land, swimming 

 at their ease, amidst mountains of ice. They are seen also by mari- 

 ners between Asia and America. According to Mr. Bullock^ the 

 Red Phalarope is found common in the marshes of Sunda and Wesira, 

 the most northerly of the Orkney Isles, where they pass the breeding 

 season, and are there so tame, and little alarmed by the destructive 

 uita of man, us to suffer the report of a guu without fear, so that Mr. 



B. killed as many aa 

 ' f ^^ *• nine of them without 



moving from the 

 gpot where he made 

 the first discharge. 

 When seen swim 

 ming in pools, it is 

 continually dipping 

 the bill into the 

 water as if feeding 

 on some minute 



insects, an4 while 

 thus engaged it will 

 often allow of a vcy 

 near approach. 

 When disturbi'd 

 they fly out a short 

 distance only, like 

 tne Dunlins. Sometimes, though rarely, they are seen to approach 

 the shore or the land in quest of food, but their pro}ier element is tne 

 water, and more particularly that of the sea or saline pools. 



The Flat-billed Phalarope breeds around Hudson's Bay in the month 

 of June, soon after their arrival from their tropical winter quarters , 

 for this purpose, they select some dry and grjussy spot, wherein they 

 lay about four eggs of an oil-green color, crowded with irregu- 

 lar spots of dark umber brown, which become conlluent towards the 

 obtuse end. The young take to wing in July, or early in August, £.nd 

 they leave the inclement shores of their nativity in the month of 

 September. At this period, as well as in the spring, a few stragglers 

 visit the United States, where they have been occasionally shot in the 

 vicinity of Philadelphia and Boston. These and other species are also 



RED PHAHROPE. 



