WILSON'S PHALAEOPE 105 



the second joint, thus making a very good pro- 

 pelling agent of the foot. 



The bird in the fall is often a plain gray and 

 white little fellow which at first glance will pass 

 for a ''sandpeep," but its slender bill and pe- 

 culiarly formed feet will mark it at once. Like 

 the others this species is heavily feathered be- 

 low to resist the water. 



The Northern Phalarope is about seven 

 inches long, with a sail-spread of about thirteen 

 inches. 



WILSON'S PHALAROPE. 



(Steganopus tricolor.) 



This is the largest and perhaps the handsom- 

 est of the family. A striking bird which ranks 

 high in point of beauty of plumage among the 

 waders. 



Wilson's Phalarope is by no means common 

 in New England, nor for that matter anywhere 

 east of the Mississippi valley, though abund- 

 ant from that region westward. Its summer 

 range takes it north to the region of the Sas- 

 katchewan, and in the winter it goes down the 

 coasts of South America even to Patagonia. 

 They breed at any point in their range, pre- 



