200 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



" The first arrivals reach St. Michael's in full plumage from 

 May 14-15, and their number is steadily augmented until, in 

 the last few days of May and first of June, they are on hand in 

 full force, and ready to set about the season's cares. Every 

 pool now has from one to several pairs of these birds gliding in 

 restless zig-zag motion about its border, the slender necks at 

 times darting quickly right or left as the bright black eyes catch 

 sight of some minute particle of food. They may be watched 

 with pleasure for hours, and present a picture of exquisite gen- 

 tleness, which renders them an unfailing source of interest. The 

 female of this bird, as is the case with the two allied species, is 

 much more richly coloured than the male, and possesses all the 

 ' rights ' demanded by the most radical reformers. 



" As the season comes on, when the flames of love mount 

 high, the dull-coloured male moves about the pool, apparently 

 heedless of the surrounding fair ones. Such stoical indifference 

 usually appears too much for the feelings of some of the latter 

 to bear. A female coyly glides close to him and bows her head 

 in pretty submissiveness, but he turns away, picks 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 mazy 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 

 indifference, 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 body, makes a half-dozen quick 

 sharp wing-strokes, producing a series of sharp whistling noises 

 in rapid succession. In the course of time, it is said, water 

 will wear away the hardest rock, and it is certain that time and 

 importunity have their full effect upon the male of this Phala- 

 rope, and soon all are comfortably married, while materfamilias 

 no longer needs to use her seductive ways and charming blan- 

 dishments to draw his notice. About the first of June the dry, 

 rounded side of a little knoll near some small pond has four 

 dark, heavily-marked eggs laid in a slight hollow upon whatever 

 lining the spot affords, or, more rarely, upon a few dry straws 

 and grass-blades, brought and loosely laid together by the birds. 



