473 

 THE RED-NECKED PPIALAROPE. 



PHALAROPUS HYPERBOREUS. 



Head deep ash-grey ; throat white ; neck bright rust-red ; under plumage white, 

 blotched on the flanks with ash ; back black, the feathers bordered with rust- 

 red ; a white bar across the wing ; two middle tail-feathers black, the rest 

 ash, edged with white ; bill black ; irides brown ; feet greenish ash. Length 

 seven inches. Eggs dark olive, closely spotted with black. 



The Red-necked Phalarope, or Lobefoot, is, like the pre- 

 ceding species, an inhabitant of the Arctic regions, but 

 extends its circle of residence so far as to include the 

 Orkney Islands, in which numerous specimens have been 

 obtained. It builds its nest of grass, in the marshes or on 

 the islands in the lakes, and lays four eggs. The most 

 marked habit of these birds seems to be that of alight- 

 ing at sea on beds of floating seaweed, and indifferently 

 swimming about in search of food, or running, with light 

 and nimble pace, after the manner of a Wagtail. They 

 are often met with thus employed at the distance of a 

 hundred miles from land. They are described as being 

 exceedingly tame, taking little notice of the vicinity of 

 men, and unaffected by the report of a gun. 



THE GREY LAG GOOSE. 



ANSER FERUS. 



Folded wings not reaching to the extremity of the tail ; bill strong, orange- 

 yellow, the nail whitish ; upper plumage ash-brown, many of the feathers 

 bordered with greyish white ; under plumage, in front, light ash-grey, barred 

 on the flanks and belly with brown, behind pure white ; iiides deep brown ; 

 legs dull flesh-colour. Eggs ivory white. Length two feet ten inches. 



The birds that we have been last describing, especially 

 the Coot and Moor-hen, are so well adapted by structure 

 for a life in the water, that they might, without grievous 

 error, be referred by the young naturalist to the Order 

 Natatores, or swimmers. There can be no doubt, however, 

 that their true place in the system is that which is 



