^94°] Mackay, Notes on Certain Water Birds. 2 27 



were observed resting on the water around the 'Pigs' (rocks, 

 lying off Swampscott), occupying an area of about a mile radius. 

 They were feeding on the red whale bait (brit) some of which 

 was taken from them. I am informed that these birds follow 

 the mackerel, which also feed on this brit, by their pursuit of 

 which it is driven to the surface, and is then obtainable by the 

 birds. I am also told that in the Bay of Fundy the Phalaropes 

 so frighten the mackerel when they come to the surface in 

 pursuit of the brit, that the fish sink themselves. To prevent 

 this, the fishermen carry at times quantities of liver cut up, which 

 they throw out to attract these birds and keep them away from 

 the fish in order that they may be better able to capture the 

 latter. 



On the above date three hundred and eleven were shot off the 

 k Pigs,' fifty-six of which were obtained as the result of two dis- 

 charges. Six of these birds were forwarded to Mr. Tufts, Lynn, 

 Mass., and six others to Mr. Welch of Salem, Mass., both tax- 

 idermists. The remainder were not preserved. All of those sent 

 to the above gentlemen proved to be Northern Phalaropes, and were 

 all females. There is every reason for believing that this entire 

 body of birds were of this species. This gathering of birds 

 appears to have been the largest ever noted in this vicinity. I 

 understand they were also observed in large numbers at Annis- 

 quam at about the same time. 



On May 30, with the wind south and fresh, my friend Mr. 

 J. R. Kendall observed two thousand (estimated) around the 

 'Pigs,' where they were still lingering, the others having departed. 

 They kept up a continual twittering. He again visited the 

 same locality on June 3, at my request, and sailed over the adja- 

 cent water, but failed to observe any birds, all having apparently 

 departed. On that day the wind was west, a fresh breeze. The 

 day before the wind was strong southwest. 



I am inclined to the belief that Phalaropus lobatus, as also 

 Cryvwphilus fulicarius, exist in enoi-mous numbers, owing to 

 the fact that they seldom approach the shores in numbers, or 

 pass over the land to any extent, as far as I am aware, during 

 their migrations. They consequently are not subject to the 

 contingencies which affect other birds. It will be recalled 

 that a very large flight of Red Phalaropes (see Auk, Vol. IX, 



