H. S. GLADSTONE : RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. 175 



Unfortunately, the tenant of the property had left in 

 the previous winter, so that the birds had lost in him 

 a protector both from the cattle and from would-be 

 collectors. I was told that two men, well-known members 

 of the British Ornithologists' Union, " had that season 

 shot two pairs of birds and had taken forty eggs." As 

 regards the latter, I hope that total included the eggs 

 of Dunlin or other less rare birds. The fact of these 

 two men coming expressly to that remote spot to rob 

 these birds may mean the destruction of this colony : 

 for already the natives had heard of their visit ; and 

 during my brief stay of two days one nest I knew of 

 was robbed ; and when on the marsh I saw a local man 

 diligently searching the ground, apparently for eggs. I 

 found twelve nests myself, one containing three, all the 

 others four eggs. These figures show how the colony has 

 increased, and would still further increase if adequately 

 protected. The cattle I saw roaming about on my second 

 visit were not allowed there by the tenant in former years : 

 the damage they must do by trampling on nests must be 

 enormous. Formerly the s]3ot was left absolutely quiet, and 

 being- in full view of the windows of "Nonsuch House," 

 no unwelcome visitor could disturb the sanctum without 

 being seen by the vigilant tenant. 



As regards the habits of the birds I have nothing 

 new to relate. They arrived, I was told, about the first 

 week in June, and departed about the third week in July, 

 though birds with later hatched broods may stay till the 

 first week in August. The first days of their arrival are 

 devoted to courtship, in which the female plays the most 

 conspicuous part. Showing off her larger stature and 

 more brilliantly-coloured plumage, she swims coyly round 

 and round the male, who though he may take flight to a 

 neighbouring pool, is so assiduously persecuted that he at 

 last falls victim to her wiles. The nests, never very deep, 

 lined with dead grass and water-weeds, are well concealed 

 in little tussocks of grass ; never far from the water's edge, 

 to which the sitting bird can on alarm creep off unnoticed. 



