704 THE NORTHERN I'HALAROPE. 



No. 285. 

 NORTHERN PHALAROPE, 



A. O. U. No. 223. Lobipes lobatus 1 l.iiin.l. 



Description. — Adult female in siiinnicr: Above and on sides of breast and 

 siilo I naridwly) slaty with a drab cast, blackisli on back and scapulars, and edged 

 here witli light ncln-aceous : wings darker slaty gray, the greater coverts broadly 

 tipped with white, forming a transverse bar : sides of neck and lower throat 

 rufous, — pure on sides, more or less mixed with slaty gray on throat: chin and 

 underparts entirel}- white; bill black : feet yellow, lobate and semipalmate, most ex- 

 tensively between middle and (inter toes. Adult male: Similar, slightly smaller, 

 and of duller coloration, save that the black of back is more decided, and the och- 

 raceous edgings of upperparts deeper. Adults in 'ivintcr: Without rufous; more 

 extensively white ; crown and auriculars ( connecting below eye with a similar spot 

 in front of eye) and median stripe of hind-neck dusky gray; the rest white; re- 

 maining upperparts blackish (centrally) and dusky gray, extensively edged and 

 striped with cream-buff and white; wing-bar as before: sides of lireast gravish 

 clouded. Iniinaturc: Similar to adult in winter, but with more black above; 

 breast usually tingetl with butfy or brownish. I^cngth 7.50 ( 190.5) ; wing 4.53 

 (115.1 ) : tail 2.02 ( 51.3 ) ; bill .85 (21.6) ; tarsus .77 ( 19.(1) ; middle toe and claw 

 .80 (.20.3). 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink size; slaty gray, rufous, and white of head 

 and neck in s|)ring plumage; slender, black bill, less than one inch long, with 

 scalloped feet, distinctive in anv plumage. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in Washington. Xest: a slight depression in the 

 ground, lined with moss and grass. E(/gs: 3 or 4, olive-buff or pale olive-gray, 

 heavily speckled, spotted or blotched with ilark brnwn. Av. size, 1. 19 x. 83 

 (30.2 X 21. i). 



General Range. — Northern portions of northern hemis]ihere, breeding in 

 Arctic latitudes; south in winter to the tropics. 



Range in Washington. — Connnon migrant alimg the coast; less common on 

 Puget Sound ; occasional in the interior. 



Authorities. — Phalamf'ns hxf^crhorcus (Linn.) Temm., Baird, Re]) Pac. 

 R. R. Surv. IX. 706. T. C&S. D-. P.. E. 



Specimens. — ( U. of ^^^ ) Prov. P'. P.. E. 



NOTHING can exceed the exquisite grace of this delicate bird as it moves 

 about, not at the water's edge, like other waders which it so closely resembles 

 in appearance, but upon the surface of a pool or even on the bosom of the deep. 

 As it swims it nods with ever\- stroke, turns at a thought to snatch some float- 

 ing sea-morsel, or flits away with as little pro\ocation as tliat aftorded the 

 bursting bubltle of foam, its late brother. T'alaskit. the Ouillayutes call them, 

 and altho we presume the name lias nothing to do with ^Alaska, the behavior of 

 the birds as thev pause for a mciment and are oft' again is very suggestive of 



