inj,' its bill inl(» the water, in this inauiicr it ^Jl>taill^ a Iav^v nimilur of marine 

 animals and llics that may be on the surface of the walir. \\ bni on the shore it 

 may l)e seen waihn^ and swimming in ponds near the oj^ast. 



Dr. Cones wrote in an interesting^ maimer of this bird. 1 le said that the Xorth- 

 ern I 'halarope is "a curious comjjound of a wader and swimmer. Take one of our 

 common little sandpipers, fit it for sea by makiu}^' oars of its feet, and launch it 

 upon the great deep, you have a Xorthern Thalarope. Vou may see a flotilla 

 of these little animated cockle-boats riding lightly on the waves anywhere off 

 the coast of New ICngland." 



Its habits at the mating season are most interesting, and no words can better 

 describe them than those of Mr. K. W. Xelson : "As the season comes on when 

 the tlamos of lo\e mount high, the dull-colored male moves about the pool, ap- 

 jxirently heedless of the surrounding fair ones. Such stoical indifference usually 

 api)ears too much for the feelings of some of the fair ones to bear. A female 

 coyly glides close to him and bows lier head in pretty submissiveness, but he 

 turns away, pecks at a bit of food and moves off; she follows and he quickens 

 his speed, but in vain ; he is her choice," and she fjroudly arches her neck and in 

 mazy circles passes and repasses close before the harassed bachelor. He turns 

 his breast first to one side, then to the other, as though to escape, but there is 

 h's gentle wooer ever pressing her suit before him. I-'requently he takes flight 

 to another part of the pool, all to no purpose. Jf with affected indift'erence 

 he tries to feed she swims along side by side, almost touching him, and at inter- 

 vals rises on wing above him and, poised a foot or two over his back, makes a 

 half-dozen quick, sharp wingstrokes, producing a series of sharp, whistling 

 noises in rapid succession. In the course of time it is said that water will wear 

 the hardest rock, and it is certain that time and importunity have their full effect 

 upon the male of this Phalarope, and soon all are comfortably married, while 

 mater familias no longer needs to use her seductive ways and charming blandish- 

 ments to draw his notice." 



Then after the four dark and heavily marked eggs are laid the "cai)tive male 

 is introduced to new duties, and spends half his time on the eggs, while the fe- 

 male keeps about the pool close by." 



887 



