C 202 ) 



SOME OBSERVATIONS OX THE BREEDING HABITS 

 OF THE RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. 



BY 

 P. H. BAHE, B.A., M.B.O.U. 



The published descriptions of the singular habits of 

 the Red-necked Phalarope {Plialaroj)us hyperhoreus) being- 

 somewhat meagre and inadequate^ I thought that a few 

 observations which I was able to make this summer might 

 be acceptable to the readers of British Birds. 



Thanks to the kind j)ermission of the authorities, I was 

 allowed to stay in a certain place in Scotland, where, under 

 very efficient protection, these birds are, I am glad to say, 

 still plentiful. As is well known, the numbers of this 

 species to be found in a particular locality vary considerably 

 from year to year. So it was that this year many of their 

 favourite haunts were untenanted where on a former 

 occasion I had counted many couples. I am not far 

 wrong when I sa}^ that scarcely a third of the usual 

 number remained to breed. Perhaps the arctic conditions 

 prevailing forced them to seek "pastures new," and, 

 moreover, had such an influence on those remaining that 

 they were A'ery late in beginning to nest. 



On May 28th, during the course of a j)erfect hurricane, 

 we observed the first arrivals. On June 2nd one jjair 

 already seemed to have settled its affairs. On the 3rd, 

 4th and 5th we saw four female Phalaropes and onlj-- 

 one male. These amazons were fighting continuously 

 amongst themselves and Avere causing the solitary male 

 much anxiety. From this it would appear that the female, 

 being the stronger and more venturesome, is the first to 

 arrive, and is followed later by the male. 



On the 5th of June we watched the phenomena of 

 polygamy, and of attempted polyandry in this sj)ecies. 



