125 



mens. The short white stripe over the eye is nearly as distinct 

 as in the female. Sides of the neck washed with faint chestnut 

 brown, rarely as deep even as the fore part of the breast in the 

 female. The glossy black auricular patch, which extends under the 

 eye to the lores on the female, is merely indicated by a brownish line 

 mixed with the color of the neck. The chestnut stripes along the 

 back of the female are onlj' indicated in very old and perfect plumaged 

 males, by a few rusty colored feathers scattered over the shoulders 

 and among the scapulars. The upper parts var}' from a dark blackish 

 brown with each feather tipped with lighter, to a light grayish brown, 

 the feathers bordered with ashy white. In all cases the feathers have 

 darker centres. Rump and upper tail coverts lighter and sometimes 

 pure white. The primaries nearly as in the female. The remainder 

 of the wing lighter. Tail as in the female. Under parts white except 

 on fore part of breast, which is light ashy brown, the same extending 

 along the sides to tlie flanks. A very light wash of chestnut is gener- 

 ally present on fore part of the neck. The male averages considerably 

 smaller than the female. The breeding plumage of the female is as 

 described by Dr. Coues ("Birds of the North-west," p. 467). 



The nest is a simple structure of fine grass blades placed in a small 

 saucer-shaped depression, generally in a perfectly open situation where 

 but slight concealment is afibrded b}' the few surrounding grass blades. 

 Sometimes the eggs are deposited directly upon the ground, without 

 any nest other than the slight hollow. The eggs usually number four 

 and are very dark. Their general appearance is much like that of a 

 small killdeer's egg with an unusual amount of dark markings. 



Genus Lobipes Ciiv. 



207. L. hyperboreus (Linn.). Noktiikhx Phalarope. Rather 

 rare migrant the first of May, and the last of September and first of 

 October. Frequents slow streams or marshy pools, where, swimming 

 gracefully from one patch of floating weeds to another, it obtains its 

 food. It is quite gentle and unsuspicious, and I have approached in a 

 boat within five yards of one without its showing the least concern. 



Genus Phalaropus Briss. 



208. P. fuliearius (Lnui.). Rkd Piialarope. Exceedingly rare. 

 Occurs only during the migrations at about the same time as the pre- 

 ceiling. 



Family SCOLOPACID^. 

 Genus Philohela Gray. 



209. P. minor {Gmel.). Woodcock. Rather common summer 



