RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 129 



somewhat less brilliant tints than his partner, and here the rufous 

 patches are divided in part b\' a slaty area ; in winter both sexes lack 

 the buff and rufous areas ; and immature birds are generally sinfiilar 

 to the cocks in autumn, but have yellowish margins to the feathers 

 of the upper-parts. The chick in down is bright golden yellow, with 

 longitudinal stripes of black. 



The main breeding-area of this species includes the northern parts 

 of both hemispheres, but extends southwards as far as Ireland in the 

 Old World ; Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and the Yenisei 

 valley may be mentioned as well-known breeding-resorts. In winter 

 these birds visit the shores of southern seas. Within the British Isles 

 up to the year 1903 the species was onl\- definitely known to nest 

 in the Orkneys, Shetlands, and Outer Hebrides, but in that year was 

 recorded as breeding in Ireland,' where, strange to say, it had been 

 previously known only as a rare straggler. This discovery took place 

 in the west of Ireland in the spring of 1902, where several nests were 

 seen, and a chick sent to the Dublin Museum for the purpose of 

 making sure that the species was correctly identified. According to 

 the testimony of the keeper on the estate in question, these birds have 

 been in the habit of breeding in the bogs there for many years, although 

 the fact was previously unknown to ornithologists. The tameness of 

 the parent birds, and their vigorous and pathetic efforts to defend 

 their offspring, were very noticeable. 



Except in the aforesaid localities, where they are far from common, 

 the red-necked phalarope visits the British Islands only as a migrant, 

 and is more abundant in autumn than in winter. At the latter season 

 these birds may be seen in the warmer seas of both hemispheres 

 swimming in flocks, often at a considerable distance from land, and 

 are then very hard to approach within range. On the other hand, 

 when the pairs are frequenting the small tarns on the moors to which 

 they resort in the breeding-season, their tameness is no less remarkable 

 than is their wariness at other times of the year. As is usual with 

 birds in which the cock does the work of incubation, the courting 

 falls to the share of the hen, who is an adept at showing her nuptial 

 plumage to the best advantage in order to attract her, may be 

 unwilling, partner. In the Orkneys the nesting-season does not 

 commence till June is well advanced. The nest in the Orkneys is 

 described as being situated in tufts of grass near water, and of the 

 approximate size of that of a titlark, but much deeper. The four eggs, 



1 Williams, Irish Naturalist, vol. xii. p. 41 ( 1903) : see also H. S. Gladstone, British Birds 

 (the serial), vol. i. p. 174 (1907). 



K 



