376 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



snails and insects, together with such small fish as they catch 

 upon the edges of the water, to which they add a quanity of 

 gravel and coarse sand. They are not seen to dive, except 

 when wounded ; then they make their way under water to the 

 grass or reeds, and then swim for the nearest shore, where, not- 

 withstanding the awkward appearance of their legs and feet, 

 they walk with firmness, and run. if necessary, with great ex- 

 pedition. They probably breed in the State occasionally ; 

 Nuttall mentions that a pair took up their residence in Fresh 

 pond in April, and in June were seen accompanied by their 

 young ; but their nests and eggs have not been found in this, 

 nor, I believe, in any of the states of the Union. 



The RED PHALAROPE. Phalaropus fu licarius, visits us on its 

 return from the north in autumn ; but they are seldom seen in 

 Massachusetts. Audubon mentions that once, when sailing in 

 a packet sixty miles from Nantucket, the vessel encountered a 

 bed of seaweeds and froth, on which were hundreds of red 

 phalaropes, walking with as much ease and confidence as if on 

 shore. 



The HYPERBOREAN PHALAROPE, Phalaropus hyperboraeus^ 

 is, as its name implies, a northern bird, seldom seen farther 

 south than New York. Dr. Brewer tells me that he has pro- 

 cured them here in May, but they are more abundant toward 

 the Bay of Fundy. None are seen in the interior ; and they 

 are found in the greatest numbers on the banks of seaweed, 

 floating on the ocean, at great distances from the shore. 



WILSON'S PHALAROPE, Phalaropus Wilsonii, is a rare visiter, 

 which, Dr. Brewer tells me, I may insert on the authority of 

 Audubon, who has found it in various places along the eastern 

 coast, from Boston to New Jersey ; but it is not sufficiently 

 common to have its history well understood. 



The CRESTED GREBE, Podiceps cristatus, is a bird which 

 breeds in the fur countries, and is seen here late in the season 



