466 PHALAROPODIDyE PHALAROPES. 



with an acute augle at tbe heel-joiut, to briug the body lower ; the latter 

 is tilted forward and downward over the centre of equilibrium, where 

 the feet rest, and the long neck and bill reach the rest of the distance 

 to the ground. Its lood consists of aquatic insects of all sorts, proba- 

 bly also of the ova or smallest fry of fish, and various kinds of lacus- 

 trine vegetation ; in seeking it, the Avhole head is frequently immersed 

 in the water. The eggs api)ear very large for the size of the bird ; they 

 are pyriform in shape, broad at one end and pointed at the other; four 

 constitute a nest-full. But both size and shape vary a good deal. Two 

 specimens I selected as representing the extremes in a large series, 

 measured, respectively, 1.85 by 1.15, and 1.70 by 1.35; the former being 

 long and narrow, the latter short and comparatively blunt. The color 

 is dark ochraceous, or pale brownish-olive, blotched all over with spots 

 and splashes of brown and blackish-brown, of irregular size and shape. 

 The exact time required for hatching is not known. Both sexes are 

 said to incubate ; and the young birds, though able to run about as soon 

 as hatched, are assiduously cared for by the parents for some time. 



Family PHALAROPODIDJE : Phalaropes. 



Several wadiug birds, properly so classed, furnish exceptions to the rule that these 

 birds have but slight powers of swimming, only exercised in an emergency. The 

 AvGcet is a fair swimmer, the toes being nearly full webbed ; still better swimmers 

 are the Coots and Phalaropes, birds not very closely allied, yet alike fitted for highly 

 aquatic life and habitual swimming by the i)resence of broad lobes on the toes. Pha- 

 laropes are swimming Sandpipers — with the modification of the feet just mentioned, 

 a thin shank to cut the water, a depressed boat-shaiied body to rest upon it, and thick- 

 ened duck-like Tinder plumage to prevent wetting of the body. Not one of the waders 

 surpasses the Phalaropes in ease and variety of movement, grace and elegance of form, 

 or beauty of color when in perfect plumage. Like other peculiar or somewhat excep- 

 tional groups of birds, the family is a small one, of not more than three well-ascertained 

 species, all of which occur in this country; two, if not also three, inhabiting the 

 Missouri region. I shall bring them all into the present account. Wilson's Phalarope 

 is indigenous only in America ; the other two are dispersed over the Northern Hemis- 

 phere. The following is an analysis of the technical characters of the three genera, or 

 rather subgenera, which the three species may be taken to represent : 



Steganopus, VieiUol, 1825 (type F.wilsoni; HolojMdiits, Bp., 1828; {^) Jmhlyrltynchus, 

 Xntt., 1834, nee Leach, 1814). Bill long, equaling the tarsus, exceeding the head, 

 extremely slender, terete and acute. Culmen and gonys broad and depressed. Lateral 

 grooves long and narrow, reaching nearly to tip of bill. Interramal space narrow and 

 very short, extending only half way to the end of the bill. NostriLs at the extreme 

 base of the bill. Wings of moderate length. Tail short, deeply, doubly emarginate ; 

 legs greatly elongated ; tibiie bare for a considerable distance ; tarsus exceeding the 

 middle toe. Toes long and slender, broadly margined with an even, unscollojied mem- 

 brane, united but for a brief space Ijasally. Claws moderately long, arched, and acute. 



LoBiPES, Cuvier, 1817 (type Tringa liyperhorea, Linn.). Bill generally as in Stegano- 

 pus, but shorter, basally stouter, and tapering to a very acute, compressed tip; ridge 

 of culmen and gonys less depressed ; interramal space longer and broader. Wings 

 long. Tail short, greatly rounded. Legs and feet short ; tibiaj denuded for but a 

 brief space ; tai'sus not longer than the middle toe. Toes very broadly margined with 

 a membrane which is scolloped or indented at each phalangeal joint, and united 

 basally as far as the second joint between the outer and middle toe, and as far as the 

 first joint between the inner and middle toe. The feet are thus semipalmated. Claws 

 very small and short. 



PiiALAUOPUS, Brmon, 1760 (type Tringa fuUcaria, Linn. ; CrymopMlus, Vieill., 1816). 

 Bill scarcely longer than the head or tarsus ; very stout for this family ; nuich de- 

 pressed ; so broad as to be almost spatulate, the tip only moderately acute. Upper 

 mandible with the ridge broad and flattened, its a])ex arched and decurved, its lateral 

 grooves wide and shallow. Interramal space broad and very long, extending nearly 

 to the end of the bill. Nostrils subbasal, at some distance from the root of the bill. 

 Wings long and jjoiuted. Tail long, rounded, the central rectrices projecting, rather 

 acuminate. The legs and feet are nuich as in Lohipes, but the semipalmation is of less 

 extent. 



