The Red-necked Phalarope 237 



water ; the mud about their edges begins to soften, and 

 through the water the melting ice at the bottom looks pale 

 green. The Ducks and the Geese fill the air with their loud 

 resounding cries, and the rapid wing-strokes of arriving and 

 departing flocks add a heavy bass to the chorus which 

 greets the opening of another glad season in the wilds of 

 the cheerless north. Amid this loud-tongued multitude 

 suddenly appears the graceful fairy-like form of the 

 Northern Phalarope. Perhaps, as the hunter sits by the 

 border of a secluded pool still half covered with snow and 

 ice, a pair of slight wings flit before him, and there, riding 

 on the water, scarcely making a ripple, floats this charming 

 and elegant bird. It glides hither and thither on the 

 water, apparently drifted by its fancy, and skims about the 

 pool like an autumn leaf wafted before the playful zephyrs 

 on some embosomed lakelet in the forest. The delicate 

 tints and slender fragile form, combining grace of colour 

 and outline with a peculiarly dainty elegance of motion, 

 render this the most lovely and attractive bird amongst its 

 handsome congeners. 



"The first arrivals reach St. Michael's in full plumage 

 from May 14 to 15, and their number is steadily augmented 

 until, in the last few days of May and June 1, they are 

 on hand in full force and ready to set about the season's 

 cares. Every pool now has from one to several pairs of 

 these birds gliding in restless zig-zag motion around its 

 borders, the slender necks at times darting quickly right 

 or left as the bright black eyes catch sight of some minute 

 particle of food. They may be watched with pleasure for 

 hours, and present a picture of exquisite gentleness which 

 renders them an unfailing source of interest. The female 

 of this bird, as is the case with the two allied species, is 

 much more richly coloured than the male, and possesses all 

 the ' rights ' demanded by the most radical reformers. As 

 the season comes on when the flames of love mount high, 



