52 LOBIPEDID.E. 



breeding season, there is reason to believe tliey take a con- 

 siderable share in the process of incubation. 



In summer the beak is black, more slender and longer than 

 that of the Grey Phalarope ; irides dark brown ; around the 

 base of the beak and the eyes, on the top of the head, back 

 of the neck, all the back and the wing-coverts, nearly uniform 

 dark lead-colour; the scapulars and tertials margined Avith 

 reddish yellow ; primaries almost black ; secondaries rather 

 lighter in colour and tipped wdth white ; upper tail- coverts 

 dusky and white ; tail-feathers brownish grey, the middle pair 

 the darkest in colour ; chin pure white ; sides and front of 

 the neck rich yellowish red ; feathers of the lower part of the 

 neck in front dark grey, edged with white ; breast, belly, 

 vent, and under tail-coverts, pure white ; in front of the wing 

 a patch of dark grey, which extends backwards, mixed with 

 white over the sides and flanks. Legs, toes, and their mem- 

 branes green, the claws black. 



Adult birds in winter have little or no red on the neck or 

 back, and young birds of the year resemble old birds in 

 winter. 



Females measure about seven inches in length, and are 

 larger than males ; from the carpal joint to the end of the 

 longest quill-feather four inches and one quarter. The length 

 of the beak, from the feathers on the forehead, ten lines and 

 a half. 



