LIMICOLM. 



( 232 ) 



SCOLOPACID^. 



THE GHEY PHALAEOPE. 



COOT-FOOT. 



Phalaropus fulicarius. 



Far away 

 To either hand, the broad, curved beach stretch' d on ; 

 And I could see the slow-paced waves advance, 

 One after one, and spread upon the saiids, 

 Making a slender edge of pearly foam 

 Just as they broke, 



Atherstone. 



This pretty bird, which is a little larger than a common 

 Sandpiper, is a very rare visitor to Berwickshire. The 

 only recorded instance of its having been found in the 

 county is that of a male which was shot at Girrick Pond, 

 near Nen thorn House, on the 19th of November 1875. It 

 was alone, and had frequented the pond for several days 

 when it was killed.^ 



This species breeds in the circumpolar regions, and its 

 reddish plumage in summer presents a striking contrast to 

 its delicate grey colour in winter. 



1 Uist. Ber. A^at. Club, vol. vii. p. 502. 



