326 The Water-fowl Family 



evidently do not breed in Maine. In the far 

 North they spread out over the smaller bodies of 

 water, and are often met with far inland. The 

 nests are a mere depression on the ground lined 

 with leaves or grasses, in some localities placed 

 in tussocks. In Shetland this species lays its 

 eggs in small colonies on a few straws in a drier 

 portion of the marsh ; the birds themselves, except 

 when incubating, frequenting other parts of the 

 same swampy tract. 



The birds are a devoted pair, following each 

 other about and keeping close to the nest. The 

 male is the smaller and more insignificant bird, 

 performing most of the incubation duties. On 

 the surface of the water the phalarope floats 

 lightly, and has much the appearance of a minia- 

 ture duck. Late in July the young are fledged, 

 and the old birds begin to change the rich plu- 

 mage of the spring for one of gray and white. 



They migrate south along the coast, keeping 

 to the open water, extending their course well 

 into the tropics. 



The northern phalarope wanders irregularly to 

 most portions of temperate Europe and Asia. 

 In North America it has occurred frequently 

 inland, particularly after heavy storms, and is 

 taken on our Great Lakes and rivers. 



On the Pacific Coast it is common in Alaska, 

 but less so farther south. The bird has been 



