BY LAKES AND STREAMS. 123 



those whose experience has taught them just 

 where to seek. 



Far away on the northern lakes and pools, 

 especially among that utter wilderness of rock and 

 heath and water which forms the Outer Hebrides, 

 in one or two highly favoured localities we may 

 meet with the RED-NECKED ^uKLK^o^^Pkalaropus 

 hyperboreus), a little wading bird that may be Hebrides. 

 distinguished from all other species by its lobed 

 feet and aquatic habits. It is as much of a water 

 bird as the Moorhen or the Coot, yet no bigger 

 than a Skylark, and remarkable for the chestnut 

 patch on either side of the neck and its sharp- 

 pointed beak. But small caution is required in 

 observing these charming birds, for they are tame 

 and confiding in the extreme. They may be seen 

 swimming about the little pools, with head lobbing 

 to and fro, ever and anon snapping at passing 

 insects, or exploring the vegetation round the 

 water for similar fare. The Red-necked Phala- 

 rope is migratory, arriving at its breeding-places 

 in May, and by far the greater part of its 

 time is spent in the water. It especially delights 

 in those pools surrounded by marshy moors, 

 and occasional patches of higher and drier 

 ground. They are sociable little birds, and though 

 their nests may be scattered up and down the 

 moors, they meet at the favourite pools and swim 

 in company all the summer through. The nest 

 is seldom made far from water, but generally 

 well concealed among the herbage of the moor. 

 It is but a mere hollow, in which a few bits of 

 dry vegetation are strewn, and the eggs, four in 

 number, are buffish brown, spotted and blotched 

 with dark brown and gray. It is a noteworthy 



