206 WADING BIRDS. 



in the north and east of Europe, in abundance in Siberia, 

 upon the banks of lakes and rivers, and it extends its vernal 

 migrations to the borders of the Caspian. These birds abound 

 in the hyperboreal regions of America, breeding on the North 

 Georgian Islands and on the remote and wintry coasts of Mel- 

 ville Peninsula. The late enterprising and scientific northern 

 navigators, on the loth of June, in the latitude of 68 degrees, 

 saw a company of these daring little voyagers out at sea, four 

 miles from land, swimming at their ease amidst mountains of 

 ice. They are seen also by mariners between Asia and Amer- 

 ica. According to Mr. Bullock, Red Phalaropes are found 

 common in the marshes of Sunda and Westra, the most north- 

 erly of the Orkney Isles, where they pass the breeding-season, 

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

 arts of man, as to suffer the report of a gun without fear, so 

 that Mr. Bullock killed as many as nine of them without mov- 

 ing from the spot where he made the first discharge. When 

 swimming in pools, this bird is seen continually dipping its 

 bill into the water, as if feeding on some minute insects, and 

 while thus engaged it will often allow of a very near approach. 

 When disturbed these birds fly out a short distance only, like 

 the Dunlins. Sometimes, though rarely, they are seen to 

 approach the shore or the land in quest of food ; but their 

 proper element is the water, and more particularly that of the 

 sea or saline pools. 



The Flat-Billed Phalarope breeds around Hudson Bay in 

 the month of June, soon after its arrival from its tropical 

 winter quarters ; for this purpose, it selects some dry and 

 grassy spot, wherein it lays about four eggs of an oil-green 

 color, crowded with irregular spots of dark umber-brown, which 

 become confluent towards the obtuse end. The young take to 

 wing in July or early in August, and 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 individuals have been occasionally shot in the 

 vicinity of Philadelphia and Boston. These and other species 

 are also seen in the autumn about Vera Cruz, where they are 



