PnALAEOPLS V>lLSCNr. 



git\e it sliriller and more continuous. The Black-necked Stilts are found abundantly alP 

 through Florida but are not as common, above the peninsula and as we pass northward 

 along tlie const, they become rare; yet in years past, stragglers have been taken in Mass- 

 achusetts but none have been recently seen, however, solar north. They leave Florida for 

 the South, early in autumn. 



FAMILY IV. PIIALAROPODID^ THE PHALAROPES. 



Bill, slender, longer than head, straight and hard throughout. Hind toe, present and 

 well -developed, while the toes are partly webbed arid provided with a lateral membrane. The 

 legs are not strikingli/ long and the tarsus is compressed lateralh/. Keel, alioat equal in 

 height to the width of the sternum. Marginal indentations, four. 



Members of this family are singular birds, exhibiting some characters whicli are pecu- 

 liar, not only to the Sandpipers but also to the Ducks, the structure of their feet, ena- 

 bling them to swim well while the peculiar, lengthened, compact feathering beneath is 

 bouyant and water-proof. The stomach is muscular and the proventriculus is large witli 

 the glands arranged in a zonular band. The coeca are long. There are but three species 

 known, all of which may, perhaps, be placed in one genus. 



GENUS I. PHALAliOPUS. TIIK niALAROPES. 



The three known specie* of Phalaropes, all of which occur within our liiniis, i!o not ai)|}ear to me to diffev sufEciont'.y- 

 to take generic rank, tNerefore I have placed tliem in a single gjnas, the characiers of which are given under the family 

 heading. Si'xe-^, quite simlLir. 



PHALAKOPUS WILSONI. 

 "Wilson's Phalarope. 

 Pha/aroim.i Wi/soni b.\n., A\)\>. Fnuik. Jnurn; 1823, 691. 



DESCr.IPTION. 



Sr. Ch. Form, robust. Size, large. Bill, nearly twice as long as head, hard ami flatleneiJ througliout. Legs, Ion "-. 

 Lateral toe memhranes, nearly straight and the basal ones are .small. Tail, doubly cmarginate. Tongue, long, thin, and 

 slender, narrov.-ing toward tip which is pointed but not horny. 



Coi.oii. Adull. Above, pale pearly-ash, beconiing lighter on the occiput ami changing into brown on win^, which 

 is darker on primaries. Secondaries and tail tipped with white, and the latter is mottled with it. There is a dusky line 

 passing through eye, darkening into velvety Mack back of it, which broadens out on neck. Tliis ends alirui)tly, lint is fol- 

 lowed by a line of dee]) chestnut tliat passe- down the back on to the scapularies, niirrowiiig as it proceeils. Upper tail 

 coverts, line over eye. and under ])arls, creamy-white, strongly tinged on n^ck and more lightly on upper b;-ea.st and side.s 

 with reddish. 



Younij. (I'rayish above, mottled with black and white, and tingsd on the neck with reldis'i, but lack t!]e black i;nJ 

 chestnut markings of the adult. The sides are grayish. When newly fledged, the feathers above are edget! with reddisli. 

 Bill and feet, black, and iris, bi-owa. in all stances. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by tlielargp ^ize, long bill, nearly straight lateral toe membranes as well as smdl basal ones, and long- 

 legs. Distributed m summer, throughout North America, from Kansas to the region of the Saskatchewan, generally west; 

 of the Missi-si]ipi, but a few breed in Illinois. Very rare on the Eastern coast in autumn; wiuterinir south of the United 

 States. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens from Western North America. Length, 8-R5; stretch, I5T0: wing, 5-05; tail, 

 SIO: bill, 1-30; tarsus, 120. Longest specimen, 9-50; greatest extent of wing, 1,5-50; longi^t wing, 5-rO: tail. 230; bill, 

 1-50; tarsus, 1 35. Sliortest specim.'n, 8 25; smallest extent of wing, U-50;. shortest wing, 460; tail, UOO; hi!'., IIO' l.ir- 

 sus, 1 14. 



