THE WILSON PHALAROPE. 541 



snatch some floating sea-morsel, or flits away with as little provocation as 

 that afforded the bursting bubble of foam, its late brother. 



It is, however, in its domestic and social relations that this dainty crea- 

 ture attracts our wondering interest. Phalarope society has evidently reached 

 a high stage of evolution, for in it the ladies not only have more ordinary rights 

 than they know what to do with, but they even do the courting. How, 

 Mr. E. W. Nelson shall tell us: 



"As the season comes on when the flames of love mount high, the dull- 

 colored male moves about the pool, apparently heedless of the surrounding 

 fair ones. Such stoical indifference appears too much for the feelings of 

 some of the fair ones to bear. A female coyly glides close to him and bows 

 her 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, anil she proudly arches her neck, and in mazy circles passes and 

 repasses before the harassed bachelor. He turns his breast first to one side 

 and then to the other, as though to escape, but there is his gentle wooer 

 ever pressing her suit before him. Frequently he takes flight to another part 

 of the pool, all to no purpose. If with affected indifference he tries to feed, 

 she swims along side by side, almost touching him, and at intervals rises 

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

 a dozen sharp wing strokes, producing a series of sharp whistling noises, in 

 rapid succession." 



When at last this modern Adonis becomes a Benedict, he not only shares 

 in the labor of constructing a nest, but is actually set to the task of incubating 

 the eggs, while his care-free spouse enjoys club life at a neighboring pool. 

 We are glad, on the whole, that these perilous precedents are set in the wilds 

 of Alaska, rather than here in the Buckeve State. 



No. 256. 



WILSON PHALAROPE. 



A. O. U. N0.224. Steganopus tricolor Vieill. 



Description.— Adult female in summer: Top of head and upper back pearl- 

 gray; nape and upper tail-coverts white; a white supraloral line; a black stripe 

 starting from before eve passes backward, becoming broader on side of neck, 

 changes to deep chestnut on hind-neck, and continuing backward over shoulder, is 

 interrupted and dispersed over tin- scapulars; rump and wings grayish brown, 

 the latter with a verv little white edging; tail still lighter gray-brown; a 

 reddish brown wash across throat and chest and sometimes sides, as tho the color- 

 ing matter of the hind-neck had "run"; remaining under parts pure white; bill 

 black; feet brownish. Adult male in summer: Similar to female but smaller. 



