370 PHALAROPVS W1LSON1. 



gave it shriller and more continuous. The Black-necked Stilts are found abundantly all 

 through Florida but are not as common above the peninsula and as we pass northward 

 along the coast, they become rare; yet in years past, stragglers have been taken in Mass- 

 achusetts but none have been recently seen, however, so far north. They leave Florida for 

 the South, early in autumn. 



FAMILY IV. PHALAROPODID^E. THE PHALAROPES. 



Bill, slender, longer than head, straight and hard throughout. Hind toe, present and 

 well -developed, while the toes are partli/ webbed and provided with a lateral membrane. The 

 legs are not strikingly long and the tarsus is compressed laterally. Keel, about equal in 

 height to the width of the sternum. Marginal indentations, four. 



Members of this family are singular birds, exhibiting some characters which are pecu- 

 liar, not only to the Sandpipers but also to the Ducks, the structure of their feet, ena- 

 bling them to swim well while the peculiar, lengthened, compact feathering beneath is 

 bouyant and water-proof. The stomach is muscular and the proventriculus is large with 

 the glands arranged in a zonular band. The cceca are long. There are but three species 

 known, all of which may, perhaps, be placed in one genus. 



GENUS I. PHALAROPUS. THE PHALAROPES. 



The three known species of Phalaropes, all of which occur within our limits, do not appear to me to differ sufficiently 

 to take generic rank, therefore I have placed them in a single genus, the characters of which are given under the family 

 heading. Sexes, quite similar. 



PHALAROPUS WILSONI. 



Wilson's Phalarope. 

 Phalaropui Wilsoni SAB., App. Frank. Journ; 1823, 691. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, robust. Size, large. Bill, nearly twice as long as head, hard and flattened throughout. Leg 1 ?, long. 

 Lateral toe membranes, nearly straight and the basal ones are small. Tail, doubly emarginate. Tongue, long, thin, and 

 slender, narrowing toward tip which is pointed but not horny. 



COLOR. Adult. Above, pale pearly-ash, becoming lighter on the occiput and changing into brown on wings, which 

 is darker on primaries. Secondaries and tail tipped with white, and the latter is mottled with it. There is a dusky line 

 passing through eye, darkening into velvety black back of it, which broadens out on neck. This ends abruptly, but is fol- 

 lowed by a line of deep chestnut that posses down the back on to the scapularies, narrowing as it proceeds. Upper tail 

 coverts, line over eye, and under parts, creamy-white, stronglv tinged on neck and more lightly on upper breast and sides 

 with reddish. 



Young. Grayish above, mottled with black and white, and tinged on the neck with reddish, but lack the black and 

 chestnut markings of the adult. The sides are grayish. When newly fledged, the feathers above are edged with reddish. 

 Bill and feet, black, and iris, brown, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by thelarge size, long bill, nearly straight lateral toe membranes as well as small basal ones, and long 

 legs. Distributed in summer, throughout North America, from Kansas to the region of the Saskatchewan, generally west 

 of the Mississippi, but a few breed in Illinois. Very rare on the Eastern coast in autumn; wintering south of the United 



States. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Western North America. Length, 8'85; stretch, 15'OC; wing, 5-05; tail, 

 2' 10: bill, 1-30; tarsus, 1-20. Longest specimen, 9'50; greatest extent of wing, 15-50; longest wing, 5'50; tail. 2-30; bill, 

 1-50; tarsus, 1 35. Shortest specimen, 8'S5; smallest extent of wing, 14'50; shortest wing, 4'60; tail, 1-90; bill, MO; tar- 

 sus. 1-14. 



