SHORE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 33 



PHALAROPUS LOBATUS (Linn.). 

 Northern Phalarope. 



Adult female in summer : Upper plumage, 

 dark plumbeous; the back, streaked with butt'; 

 sides and front of the neck, rufous brown; 

 greater wing coverts, tipped with white ; bell}-., 

 white. 



Adult male in summer : Similar to the female 

 but paler ; little, if any, rufous on the front of 

 the neck. 



Winter plumaye : Upper plumage, grayish ; forehead, sides 

 of the neck, cheeks, and underparts, white; top of the head, 



dull gray; the feathers edged with dull white; a dusky spot on side of head and in front of 

 the eye ; breast, tinged with gray. 



Length, 7.50; wing, 4.25; tarsus, .80; tail, 2; bill, .80 to .90. 



The Northern Phalarope is another of our maritime species, at times not 

 uncommon along our coast. It occurs on the Pacific coast as well as on the 

 Atlantic side, and is common and breeds among the islands of Behring Sea. 

 It is rather a more southern species than the preceding, and wanders in 

 winter as far south as the Middle States, and to Mexico on the Pacific side. 

 It occurs in the interior, being not uncommon on some of our large inland 

 lakes. It swims easily arid gracefully and is very much at home in the water 

 on account of its webbed feet. The male of this species, as in the other Pha- 

 laropes, is smaller than the female and not so highly colored ; he also takes 

 upon himself many domestic duties usually assumed by the female ; he sets on 

 the nest, contrary to the usual custom, and devotes himself to the young chicks. 

 The eggs are usually three or four, and are gray or grayish, blotched with 

 chocolate brown. The nest, which is built on the ground, is usually composed 

 of a little grass or moss. 



