PHALAROPUS FULICARIUS I RED PHALAROPE. 189 



range of variation in color that it is difficult to de- 

 scribe them intelligibly. The ground varies from dark 

 greenish olive, or brownish olive, through various 

 lighter drab-tints, nearly to a buffy-brown, and in some 

 instances to a light grayish-drab. The markings are 

 usually very bold and heavy, consisting of large spots 

 and the still larger splashes produced by their con- 

 fluence, mingled with dots and scratches in inter- 

 minable confusion. The markings are, in general, 

 pretty evenly distributed, sometimes aggregated about 

 the butt, and in rarer instances forming a complete, 

 definite circle. In a few instances all the markings are 

 mere dots. In general, the heaviness and size of the 

 markings bear some proportion to the intensity of the 

 ground-color. The color of the markings is dark bistre, 

 chocolate, and sometimes still lighter browns. The 

 longest and narrowest egg measures 1.30 inches by only 

 0.75 ; a short and thick one only i.io by 0.82 ; average 

 about i. 20 by 0.80. The eggs are three or four, oftenest 

 four, and are laid in June more frequently in the latter 

 half of the month in a depression of the ground, vari- 

 ously lined with withered vegetation. 



RED PHALAROPE. 

 PHALAROPUS FULICARIUS (L.) Bp. 



Chars. Bill scarcely longer than the head or tarsus ; very stout for 

 this family ; much depressed ; so broad as to be almost spatulate, 

 the tip only moderately acute. Upper mandible with the ridge 

 broad and flattened, its apex arched and decurved, its lateral 

 grooves wide and shallow. Interramal space broad and very 

 long, extending nearly to the end of the bill Nostrils sub- 



