114 NOTES ON THE 



PHALAROPUS TRICOJiOR (Vieillot). (224.) 

 WILSON'S PHALAROPE. 



Of all the shore birds which are ever seen about our ponds 

 and numerous lakes, Wilson's Phalarope is the most beautiful. 

 Reaching the lower borders of the State by the 25th of April, 

 they gradually spread over its whole extent where the food- 

 conditions invite them, and after about three weeks, build their 

 nests in canebrakes, and reed-embraced pools, in close prox- 

 imity to those of several other species of water birds. The 

 nests are constructed of fine reeds, grass, and invariably a little 

 moss, — sometimes principally of moss with no reeds and but 

 little grass, and is a loose structure, placed on a hummock of 

 moss, or in a tussock of reeds or grass. 



They contain three to four olivaceous-drab colored eggs, 

 splotched all over with large spots of dark umber. These 

 colors vary exceedingly in diiferent specimens. 



The young are following the parent by the third week in 

 June, and are full grown by the first week in August. They 

 remain but little later than the other Phalaropes in the autumn 

 generally, although not very infrequently individuals have been 

 obtained in October. 



Their chief food seems to be mollusca, but embraces excep- 

 tionally nearly everything eaten by the other Phalaropes, and 

 the different species of Snipe. 



Their habits are so occult that it is no easy task to observe 

 them. Wading about in a busy, contented manner in a shal- 

 low pool, picking out its food nimbly, and unerringly, or 

 creeking a note repeatedly that is much more easily learned 

 than written, they seem the embodiment of beauty, grace, and 

 absolute contentment amidst the humblest circumstances of en- 

 vironment. 



A good number of these birds have found their way into the 

 difierent taxidermal and scientific collections in the State, in 

 different stages of developement, and many more find their way 

 into the markets in snipe season during fall shooting. 



My greatest diffuculty in getting the eggs of this species into 

 my records rightly has been the popular confounding of the 

 birds with the "snipes." I have insisted upon the bird accom- 

 panying the nests and eggs until in two instances I have at- 

 tained certainly, and in one fairly so, although I have never 

 had the great pleasure of securing them myself. Their local 

 breeding habits are above any question. 



