196 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



like the noise made by lightly tapping together small bars of 

 steel. When the birds were disturbed, these notes were 

 repeated oftener and became harder and louder. 



"A little later in the day, as their hunger became satisfied, 

 they began to unite into parties, until fifteen or twenty birds 

 would rise and pursue an erratic course over the flat. As 

 they passed swiftly along, stray individuals and pairs might be 

 seen to spring up and join the flock. Other flocks would 

 rise and the smaller coalesce with the larger until from two 

 hundred to three or even four hundred birds were gathered 

 in a single flock. As the size of the flock increased, its move- 

 ments became more and more irregular. At one moment 

 they would glide straight along the ground, then change to a way- 

 ward flight, back and forth, twisting about with such rapidity 

 that it was difficult to follow them with the eye. Suddenly 

 their course would change, and the compact flock, as if animated 

 by a single impulse, would rise high over head, and after a series 

 of graceful and swift evolutions, come sweeping down with a 

 loud, rushing sound to resume their playful course near the 

 ground. During all their motions the entire flock moved in 

 such unison that the alternate flashing of the under-side of their 

 wings and the dark colour of their back, like the play of light 

 and shade, made a beautiful spectacle. When wearied of their 

 sport the flock disbanded and the birds again resumed their 

 feeding. 



" When the Red Phalarope arrives in spring, its preference 

 is for the flat wet lands bordering the coast and rivers, where 

 it remains to breed. It is not usually found on the sea 

 at this season, but on June 10, 1878, a number were seen 

 swimming along the floating ice in the Bay of St. Michael's. 

 Very early in June the females have each paid their court and 

 won a shy and gentle male to share their coming cares." 



Nest. The nest, according to Mr. Nelson, consists of a 

 slight depression, generally on the damp flats with very rarely 

 any lining. One was found by him on the 8th of June within 

 six feet of a small brackish pool, the eggs being deposited upon 

 a nest of dried leaves under a dwarf willow. 



Eggs. Four in number and very much pointed. The ground- 

 colour is very dark, of a deep clay-colour, verging to chocolate- 



