PHAI^AROPES 147 



throughout the State during migration. It is indeed peculiar 

 that it does not seem to breed in this State. During the breed- 

 ing season they frequent fresh water ponds, pug-holes, marshes 

 and swamps, preferring an aquatic life. 



In California I have observed the Mud-hens swimming in 

 small groups over the rush bordered ponds and talking to one 

 another in low creaking gabbles and squaks. When alarmed 

 they rise and skim frantically along the surface of the water, 

 using both feet and wings in their frantic efforts to reach the 

 shelter of the rushes, here unseen they gabble with one another 

 concerning the cause of the alarm. 



The nest is composed of tules, reeds and sedges and is 

 usually floating on the water among the rushes and tules to 

 which it is anchored, or some times placed on top of broken 

 down masses of vegetation. A nest containing eight eggs 

 which was found July 8, 1897, was of the floating kind, being 

 slightly cupped and barely large enough to hold the eggs. 

 This nest measured fifteen inches across on the outside and 

 eight inches across the inside. Its external depth was eight 

 inches and its internal depth two inches. The eggs are clay 

 white, peppered over the entire surface with black. These in 

 question measure 1.85 x 1.26. 1.88 x 1.30, 1.88 x 1.29, 1.83 

 X 1.25, 1.85 X 1.32, 1.81 x 1.30, 1.85 x 1.30, 1.86 x 1.27. 

 The food of these birds is largely of animal nature con- 

 sisting of almost any pond inhabiting insects, snails, slugs, 

 leeches, and also tender vegetable shoots, duck weed, ( Lemna 

 and Spirodela), Azollo. etc. 



Order LIMICOL.E. Shore Birds. 



Family PHALAROPODID.^. Phalaropes. 



Key to the species of PHALAROPODIDyE. 



A. Wing under 4.80. Northern Phalarope. 



B. Wing over 4.80. 



1. Bill over 1.10. Wilson's Phalarope. 



2. Bill under 1.10. Red Phalarope. 



