702 THE RED PHALAROPE, 
long, jab the wick end of the candle down hard on the floor to spread it out for 
feet. Stand it up and heave a boot-jack at it to give the desired animation, and 
a good representation of a young Black Oyster-catcher will be produced, for a 
more comical object than a toddling Oyster-catcher is difficult to conceive.” 
The name Oyster-catcher is, of course, a misnomer. Oysters are not much 
given to sprinting anyway, and this bird is not at all interested in their ambula- 
torial powers; for he does not frequent sand-beaches, mud-flats, or oyster-beds. 
Even when visiting the mainland shore, which is not often, the bird confines 
its attention to the barnacle-covered rocks and high-lying mussel-beds. Its 
food consists of marine worms and crustaceans of various sorts, barnacles, 
limpets, and especially, mussels. Its stout, chisel-shaped beak enables it to 
force an entrance into the most refractory mussel shell, and to sever as by a 
knife the strong adbuctor muscles, which hold the valves together. Its feet 
also are large and strong, and the toes are provided with an elaborate set of 
pectinations which enable the bird to maintain a footing upon the most slippery 
rocks. If the foothold on a sloping rock is anywise precarious the bird retreats 
backward and uphill by means of these convenient calks. 
These facts concerning the bird’s habits are perfectly well known by those 
who know the bird at all; nevertheless, the name Oyster-catcher is unfortunate. 
We had a bill up at Olympia, session of 1907, to protect this and several other 
persecuted species. A learned Senator arose and addressed the upper house: 
“Gentlemen (hic) I am not in favor of this bill. The persecuted bivalve needs 
a (hic) friend. Why should we (hic) offer succor to its enemies? Gentlemen, 
I believe in protecting the (hic) oyster.” Applause—amidst which “Black 
Oyster-catcher” is stricken from the bill. 
A dozen pairs or such a matter of these birds are found among the San 
Juan Islands, but they never range further south on Puget Sound. Every islet 
and major reef of the Olympiades boasts at least one pair; while the larger 
rocks have from two to a dozen of them ;—say a hundred pairs, all told, for 
the State. Nesting is in June, but the migratory movements, if, indeed, they 
do migrate, have not been reported on. 
No. 284. 
RED PHALAROPE. 
A. O. U. No. 222. Phalaropus fulicarius (Linn.). 
Description.—Adult female in summer; Entire underparts, except lining 
of wing, purplish chestnut; axillars and lining of wing white; region about base 
of bill, forehead, and crown blackish plumbeous; sides of head white nearly meet- 
ing on nape; upperparts, centrally, black with buffy and ochraceous edgings 
mostly in lengthwise patterns; wings plumbeous-gray ; quills fuscous with white 
