The terrestrial mammals and birds of North-East Greenland. 153 



June 19*'^ 1907 early in the morning I had the pleasure of wat- 

 ching for hours the actions of a loving couple of Phalaropes on the 

 beach of a pool surrounded b}^ large sedge-tufts, covered with long 

 withered grass. 



The beautiful birds behaved all the while so fearlessly that I 

 could observe them from a distance of some two paces. At first 

 they were entirely occupied in searching for food. Swimming on 

 the Avater and going amongst the tufts they eagerly hunted for gnats 

 and larvæ of these. 



They caught the larvæ by swimming swiftly with the neck 

 stretched out towards the selected prey. They would often keep 

 the bill vertically and — reconnoitring the water just in front of 

 them — pick up the prey, that was observed, with the greatest 

 dexterity. Between the tufts the Phalaropes would especially hunt 

 flying insects. 



The birds would, as well walking as swimming execute nodding 

 movements with the head just as Fiilica atra, Gallinula chloropiis 

 and other marsh-birds. The two Phalaropes observed were evidently 

 very much afraid of larger waders as for instance Knots. Several 

 times I saw them rush together in terror and lie motionless on the 

 water with their heads pressed down to their backs until the sup- 

 posed danger — a passing Knot — was past; then they continued 

 their meal or love-making. 



This act I found very funny, peculiar and charming. When 

 the male had been eagerl}"^ searching food for some 20 minutes, 

 often standing on his head in the water like a duck to fish or pick 

 up something from the bottom, he would lie down on a tuft stret- 

 ching out his one leg and his one wing as if he would fully enjoy 

 the rest after his exertions. The female for some moments was 

 lying quietly and mutely in the middle of the pool; suddenly she 

 began with increasing rapidity to whirl around on the surface of 

 the water always in the same little circle, the diameter of which 

 was some 10 cm. 



As the male seemed to pay no attention to her alluring move- 

 ments she flew rapidly up to him — producing as she left the water 

 a peculiar whirling sound with her wings and uttering short angry 

 cries — pushed him with her bill, and then she returned to the 

 water and took up her swimming dance. Noav the male came out 

 to her and the two birds whirled around for some moments equally 

 eager and with increasing rapidity. Uttering a short call the female 

 again flew to a tuft surrounded by water and waited some seconds 

 in vain for the male; again she flew to the water to induce him 

 with eager pushes and thumps to accompany her. They again 



