Shore-bird Shooting 323 



specimen, presented to me by Mr. Downs of 

 Halifax, which was brought to him alive by a 

 sailor, wrecked off Sable Island, who secured it 

 in this way. The birds are sociable, gathering 

 in large flocks, flying low and gracefully just over 

 the waves' crest, and have no fear of man, living 

 as they do in places he seldom disturbs. 



In August they are found in some numbers off 

 the coast of Maine, frequenting the tide-rips near 

 Grand Manan, in company with the northern 

 phalarope. Off Cape Cod this bird is not infre- 

 quently taken in the spring, after heavy weather. 

 Enormous flocks are seen occasionally at great 

 distances from shore off the coasts of North Caro- 

 lina, Massachusetts, and Labrador, the Aleutian 

 Islands, and Lower California in the spring and 

 fall. The most maritime of the phalaropes, it 

 seldom voluntarily approaches land except in the 

 breeding season, and even then keeps in the neigh- 

 borhood of salt water. This species is the most 

 graceful of all birds on the water, floating like 

 down, and in powers of flight far surpasses the 

 other phalaropes. It is known as bow-head bird, 

 whale-bird, sea-goose, coot-footed tringa. 



NORTHERN PHALAROPE 



(Phalaropus lobatus) 



Adult female in breeding plumage Upper parts, head, neck pos- 

 teriorly, dark lead color, with feathers on back and scapulars 

 tipped with rusty ; a white line above and below the eye ; neck 



