322 The Water-fowl Family 



blows, the birds congregate in the vicinity, feed- 

 ing on the animalculae and minute marine animals 

 brought to the surface, often lighting on the 

 whale itself. They are found at times far from 

 land, and after a storm have been noticed hun- 

 dreds of miles out at sea. Off the coast of Green- 

 land and the shores and islands of the North 

 Atlantic the bird is found as soon as the ice 

 breaks up, and is a common summer resident. 

 The nest is on the ground, a mere depression 

 lined with grass or leaves, and is near the water. 

 Incubation is begun early in July; the female 

 reverses the custom of all other birds, does her 

 own courting, while the more insignificant male 

 attends to most of the incubation affairs and 

 does as he is bid. When the young are fledged 

 the birds soon resort to the open water, although 

 at times frequenting the ponds and bays near the 

 shore. The adult female of this species, in the full 

 breeding plumage, is a beautiful bird and a fitting 

 ornament to nature's wilderness of sea and ice. 

 Early in August the adult plumage is changed to 

 gray and the birds start on the migration south. 

 After leaving their summer resorts they seem to 

 prefer the sea, well offshore, braving heavy storms 

 of fall, in winter passing south as far as the West 

 Indies. 



There are instances of the red phalarope com- 

 ing on board ships, and in my collection is a fine 



