140 THE BIOLOGY OF THE SEASONS 



with." The study of these exceptional cases is very interesting 

 in connection with the theory of sex. Most snipes and sand- 

 pipers, Bowdler Sharpe notes, show a superiority in the 

 female sex, but usually in size alone. In the African and 

 Indian forms of Painted Snipe (Rostratula) the females are 

 brighter as well as larger. Among birds of prey the female is 

 often the larger and more powerful bird, but there is little 

 decorative difference. 



One of the most striking of the exceptional cases is the 

 Red-necked Phalarope (Phalarope hyperboreus) , a graceful 

 fairy-like bird that breeds on the Arctic shore. The female 

 is a perfect female, but she is very masculine in several 

 ways, and is much more richly coloured than her mate. 

 The male is a perfect male, but he is very feminine 

 in some of his ways. We quote an account of their 

 behaviour. 



Mr. E. W. Nelson writes: "The dull-coloured male 

 moves about the pool apparently heedless of the surrounding 

 females. Such stoical indifference usually appears too much 

 for the feelings of some of the fair ones to bear. A female coyly 

 glides close to him, and bows her head in pretty submissive- 

 ness, but he turns away, pecks at a bit of food, and moves off ; 

 she follows, and he quickens his speed, but in vain ; he is 

 her choice, and she proudly arches her neck, and in many 

 circles passes and repasses close before the harassed bachelor. 

 He turns his breast first to one side, then to the other, as 

 though to escape, but there is his gentle wooer ever pressing 

 her suit before him. Frequently he takes flight to another 

 part of the pool, all to no purpose. If, with affected in- 

 difference, he tries to feed, she swims along side by side, 

 almost touching him, and at intervals rises on wing above 

 him, and, poised a foot or two over his back, makes a half- 

 dozen quick, sharp wing-strokes, producing a series of sharp, 

 whistling noises in rapid succession. In the course of time, 



