PHALANGES—PHALAROPE 711 
and well known from Plot’s description (Hist. Staffordsh. pl. xix. 
pp. 231-233) had ceased to be occupied by the end of the last 
century, and most of the other stations throughout the country have 
been destroyed, some through drainage, but often by carelessness and 
occasionally by greediness—for the eggs are a valuable commodity, 
even as the young in old days were accounted !—but there are still 
two of considerable size in England, Scoulton in Norfolk, and 
Twigmoor in Lincolnshire. The name Pewit, in Scotland Peaseweep, 
is now more commonly applied to the LAPwING, but in each case 
it was given from the bird’s ery, as it is in North America to one 
of the TYRANT-BIRDS, Sayornis fusca, which is a general favourite 
there as a recognized harbinger of summer.? ‘To some ears its note 
sounds like “phebe,” and as the “ PHa@pE-bird”? it was first 
described by Pennant. In certain districts it bears the name of 
*‘Bee-eater,” to which it is very likely entitled, and there it is not 
very popular with the owners of hives. 
PHALANGES, the several bones composing the digits. In 
those of the hind limb (or Tors) the original and almost universal 
number is 2 for the HALLUX, and 3, 4 and 5 for the second, third 
and fourth digits respectively. Exceptions are found in Cypselus 
and Panyptila (SwIrT), where the second, third and fourth toes have 
each 3 phalanges, in some of the Caprimulgi (NIGHTJAR), and in the 
singular genus Cholornis from Western China and of doubtful 
affinity, where the fourth digit is reduced to a mere stump. Of the 
wing-digits the PoLLEX has 2 phalanges, the index 2 or 3, and the 
third 1 or 2—the terminal phalanges being often very small or 
represented by cartilage only. 
PHALAROPE, Brisson’s maladroit rendering* of the ‘ Coot- 
footed Tringa” of Edwards who, in 1741, shewed himself a better 
judge of its affinities than many others both before and after him, 
since for a long while some of the best authorities thought the 
Phalaropes allied to the Coot, whereas they are unquestionably 
Limicolz, only somewhat modified in accordance with their habit of 
swimming. There are three species, each possessing a peculiarity 
of structure sufficient to warrant its being regarded as generic were 
the doing so convenient. The type is Phalaropus fulicarius, com- 
monly known in England as the Grey Phalarope, from*the prevalent 
colour of its winter-plumage, which it has generally donned when 
1 They were netted before they could fly, and kept in pens to be killed for 
the table as wanted, selling in Ray’s time for five shillings the dozen. 
* Not to be confounded with the PEWEE. 
3 This name is usually so spelt, but it has nothing to do with the moon- 
goddess or any one named after her. 
4 His generic term should have been Phalaridopus from ¢anapls, -ldos (cf. 
Murdoch, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, iii. p. 150). 
