260 CHAKADRIID^] 



The foot is partially webbed, each toe being fringed with 

 membranous lobes. 



The Grey Phalarope is an unsuspicious little creature. 

 It delights to paddle in small pools on or close to the sea- 

 coast ; less frequently it resorts to inland waters. On 

 November 19th, 1899, 'l watched one of these birds on the 

 beach of Dublin Bay, pattering about at a distance of only 

 fifteen yards, and quite unconcerned at my presence. It 

 several times rushed into the water and out again with amaz- 

 ing agility, and spun round in pursuit of aquatic insects with 

 the speed of a feather twisted by the wind. The nodding 

 movements of the head, described by many writers, were 

 very apparent. Twice the bird rose vertically from the 

 surface of the water, as if snapping at flies, which were 

 buzzing around. I continued to watch it until darkness 

 set in, and with the last glimmer of daylight I left it 

 swimming contentedly in the middle of its favourite pond. 

 I must have been a full half-hour making observations, 

 during which time the bird, at irregular intervals, quitted 

 the water, but never wandered far from the edge of the 

 pool. 



The indifference of the Grey Phalarope in allowing man 

 to approach it is remarkable. In his ' Letters to Young 

 Shooters,' Sir E. Payne-Gallwey mentions that he has seen 

 this species within an oar's length of him, swimming tamely 

 about on tidal rivers and creeks, and resembling a miniature 

 Gull floating on the surface. 



Watters draws attention to the fact that in America the 

 Phalarope is gregarious in winter. He states that Audubon 

 observed large flocks frequenting the neighbourhood of the 

 Ohio and Arkansas rivers ; hundreds were also to be seen 

 far out at sea, assembling on the banks of seaweed. 



Flight. The flight is very swift and undulating and the 

 beat of the wing is rapid. 



Food. 1 Marine animals of various kinds are eaten, such 

 as small crabs, shrimps, insects, and worms ; also scraps of 

 seaweed. In search of food the Grey Phalarope may be met 



1 Dr. B. F. Scharff has kindly favoured me with the following report 

 on the contents of the stomach of a Grey Phalarope which I recently 

 obtained (November 20th, 1899) on Dublin Bay. "The gizzard of 

 this bird contained mostly sand with small sharp stones, the largest 

 measuring one-sixth of an inch in length. As for the food, it consisted 

 entirely of two species of Invertebrates. The last meal was about a 



