95 



Anomalous in structure and systematic relationships, they are equally 

 so in habits. The female instead of the male is the bright-coloured repre- 

 sentative of the family circle, and she takes the initiative in courting rites; 

 makes the first advance towards her shy and modestly-coloured prospective 

 mate and upon fulfilling her duties of egg deposition leaves the further 

 cares of incubation and family raising to him. 



Economic Status. Inhabit water or waste shores and are of little or 

 no economic importance. 



Genus Phalaropus. Red Phalarope. 



222. Red Phalarope. GREY PHALAROPE, WHALE BIRD. FR. LE PHALAROPE ROUX. 

 Phalaropus fulicarius. L, 8-12. Adult female is easily recognized by the even, dull 

 reddish brown of the foreneck and underparts. The back is light ochre and black in 

 stripes. The male is similar, but the colours veiled, broken, and less distinct. In winter 

 this species is slate-grey above and white below. 



Distinctions. The Red Phalarope can be easily distinguished from either of the other 

 two members of the family by its bill and feet, the former comparatively broad and flat. 

 Toes webbed at base and with projecting scalloped lobes on either side. See following 

 species. 



Field Marks. General habits and habitat. In breeding season colour is best mark 

 of recognition. At sea this species is said to show more black on top of head and in wings 

 than the other Phalaropes. In other than full plumage the comparatively short and 

 flattened bill is perhaps the best point for identification. 



Distribution. Breeds along the whole Arctic coast of America, migrating down the sea- 

 coasts on either side; rare inland in Great Lakes region. 



Genus Lobipes. Northern Phalarope. 



223. Northern Phalarope. RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. FR. LE PHALAROPE HYPER- 

 BOREEN. Lobipes lobatus. L, 7-75. Adult female: upperparts, back of neck, and head 

 dark slaty; throat and below, white; sides of neck meeting on front of lower neck, rich 

 rufous, with lines of same along back over closed wing. Male similar but veiled and re- 

 duced in colour. Winter birds light grey above, white below with only faint suggestions 

 of above coloration. 



Distinctions. Bill very slender and awl-shaped, rather like Wilson's Phalarope but 

 shorter; feet have small webs and scalloped flaps, like Red Phalarope. 



Field Marks. General colour and fine needle-like bill. Smallest of the Phalaropes 

 of eastern Canada. 



Distribution. Similar to the preceding. 



Genus Steganopus. Wilson's Phalarope. 



224. Wilson's Phalarope. FR. I,E PHALAROPE DE WILSON. Steganopus tricolor. 

 L, 8-75. Beautifully coloured bird. Adult female has stripes of sharply contrasting colour 

 arranged on head and neck. Crown of pearl-grey shading to white on hindneck and to 

 grey again on shoulders. Black line through eye and down side of neck, changing to rich, 

 chestnut-red which continues along side of back. Throat, white blending into delicate 

 vinaceous on neck and breast to white again on lower parts. Male, greyish brown above 

 and white below, with suggestion of the female's brighter coloration. 



Distinctions. Bill very long, 1 25 inches, slender and needle-like, an exaggeration of 

 the last species. Toes not webbed but furnished with narrow, even edges of membrane. 



Field Marks. Colour, size, and extremely long and slender bill. 



Distribution. A mid-western and more southern species than the preceding, breeding 

 in the prairie provinces and only of casual occurrence east on lower Great Lakes. 



FAMILY RECURVIROSTRID^E. AVOCETS AND STILTS. 



General Description. Among the largest of the Shore Birds and recognizable by their 

 strikingly contrasted colours and great length of legs and bill. This is carried to an extreme 

 in the Stilts which, however, are entirely extralimital. The Avocet has occurred accident- 

 ally within our borders east of t'he prairies. 



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