260 CHARADRITDA 
The foot is partially webbed, each toe being fringed with 
membranous lobes. 
The Grey Phalarope is an unsuspicious little creature. 
It delights to paddle in small pools on or close to the sea- 
coast ; less frequently it resorts to inland waters. On 
November 19th, 1899, I watched one of these birds on the 
beach of Dublin Bay, pattering about at a distance of only 
fifteen yards, and quite unconcerned at my presence. It 
several times rushed into the water and out again with amaz- 
ing agility, and spun round in pursuit of aquatic insects with 
the speed of a feather twisted by the wind. The nodding 
movements of the head, described by many writers, were 
very apparent. 'T'wice the bird rose vertically from the 
surface of the water, as if snapping at flies, which were 
buzzing around. I continued to watch it until darkness 
set in, and with the last glimmer of daylight I left it 
swimming contentedly in the middle of its favourite pond. 
I must have been a full half-hour making observations, 
during which time the bird, at irregular intervals, quitted 
the water, but never wandered far from the edge of the 
pool. 
The indifference of the Grey Phalarope in allowing man 
to approach it is remarkable. In his ‘ Letters to Young 
Shooters,’ Sir R. Payne-Gallwey mentions that he has seen 
this species within an oar’s length of him, swimming tamely 
about on tidal rivers and creeks, and resembling a miniature 
Gull floating on the surface. 
Watters draws attention to the fact that in America the 
Phalarope is gregarious in winter. He states that Audubon 
observed large flocks frequenting the neighbourhood of the 
Ohio and Arkansas rivers; hundreds were also to be seen 
far out at sea, assembling on the banks of seaweed. 
Flight.—TVhe flight is very swift and undulating and the 
beat of the wing is rapid. 
Food.A—Marine animals of various kinds are eaten, such 
as small crabs, shrimps, insects, and worms; also scraps of 
seaweed. In search of food the Grey Phalarope may be met 
' Dr. R. F. Scharff has kindly favoured me with the following report 
on the contents of the stomach of a Grey Phalarope which I recently 
obtained (November 20th, 1899) on Dublin Bay. “The gizzard of 
this bird contained mostly sand with small sharp stones, the largest 
measuring one-sixth of an inch in length. As for the food, it consisted 
entirely of two species of Invertebrates. The last meal was about a 
