WILSON'S PHALAROPE 107 



back in a narrow stripe, losing itself in the asliy 

 gray of the back. A strip of black from the 

 base of the bill passing below and behind the 

 eve and down the side of the neck where it 

 changes into purplish chestnut behind and si- 

 enna brown in front, this gradually fading into 

 the white of the throat and under parts. Above, 

 ashy gray, mottled and flecked with deep red- 

 brown. Rump and upper tail coverts nearly 

 white. Wings folding quite a little beyond the 

 tail, brownish gray, with fine white tips to the 

 coverts. Primaries dusky, the shafts white, 

 darkening at the ends. Tail grayish brown 

 with tiny edging of white. Entire under parts 

 white, the feathers thick and close like those of 

 a water fowl. The legs rather long and flat- 

 tened laterally as though (''I axes the lady's 

 parding" but she will wear 'em) her trousers 

 had just been creased ; the feet black, with long, 

 slender toes having a marginal webbing. Iris 

 brown. Length from eight and one-half to nine 

 inches; extent about fifteen inches. 



The male is smaller, and much duller in mark- 

 ings and color. The brightness of his lady's 

 garb is very faintly shown in his clothes. A 

 plain, sad-colored, gray and white, hen-pecked 



