702 THE RED PHALAROPE. 



long, jal) tlu- wick t-ml nl llic caiidk' dnwii hanl cm the floor to spread ii oiil for 

 feet. Stand it np and heave a boot-jack at it to give t!ie desired animation, and 

 a good re])resentation of a _\'oung Black Oyster-catcher will l)e produced, for a 

 more comical object than a toddling (lyster-catcher is difficnlt to conceive." 



The name Oyster-catcher is, of conrse, a misnomer. Oysters are not much 

 given to sprinting an^-way. and this bird is not at all interested in their anilnila- 

 torial p(.)\vers: for he does not frequent sand-beaches, mud-tlats. or ovster-beds. 

 \\Y(in when \isiting the mainland shore, which is not often, the bird confines 

 its attention to the barnacle-covered rocks and high-U'ing mussel-beds. Its 

 food consists of marine worms and crustaceans of \arious sorts, barnacles, 

 limpets, and especially, mussels. Its stout, chisel-slia])ed beak enables it to 

 force an entrance into the most refractory mussel shell, and to se\'er as by a 

 knife the strong adbuctor muscles, whicli huld the \al\-es together. Its feet 

 also are large and strong, and the toes are provided with an elaborate set of 

 ]jectinations which enable the bird to maintain a footing upon the most sli])pery 

 rocks. If the fixilhold on a slnping rock is anx'wise ])recarions the bird retreats 

 backward and uphill by means of these con\-enient calks. 



These facts concerning the bird's habits are perfectly well known by tlmse 

 who know the bird at all: nevertheless, the name Ox'ster-catcher is unfc;)rtunate. 

 We had a bill up at Olympia, session of IQ07, to protect this and several other 

 persecuted species. A learned Senator arose and addressed the u]5per house : 

 "Gentlemen (hie) I am nut in favor of this bill. The persecuted bi\'al\'e nee<ls 

 a (hie) friend. Whv should we (hie) oft er succor to its enemies .■" Gentlemen. 

 I believe in jirotecting the (hie) oyster." Applause — amidst which "Black 

 Ovster-catcher" is stricken from the bill. 



.\ dozen pairs or such a matter of these birds are found among the San 

 luan Islands, but they ne\'er range further south on Puget Sound. Every islet 

 and major reef of the Olvmpiades boasts at least one pair: while the larger 

 rocks ha\-e from two to a dozen of them; — say a hundred pairs, all told, for 

 the State. Nesting is in June, but the migratory movements, if, indeed, they 

 do migrate, ha\e not been reported on. 



No. 284. 



RED PHALAROPE. 



A. O. U. No. 222. Phalaropiis fiilicarius iI.iiin.K 



Description. — Adult female in siiiiiiiicr: Entire untleri^arts. except lining 

 of wing, purplish chestnut; axillars and lining of wing white; region about base 

 of bill, forehead, and crown blackish plumbeous; sides of head white nearly meet- 

 ing on nape; upperparts, centrally, black with huffy and ochraceous edgings 

 mostly in lengthwise patterns; wings phnnbcous-gray ; quills fuscous with white 



