XOfiTHERN PHALAROPE. 371 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AM) Ki.i.S 



F.yi/f, placed on the ground in a holl'.w scratched in the soil, with a little grass, etc.; two to four in number, rather pyr- 

 iforin in shupe, ashy-yellow in color, spotted and blotched irregularly, ami usually coarsely, with brown of varying shades. 

 Dimension- I'ri.iii -ilOxI-JO to -95xl-:i5. 



HABITS. 



Wilson's Phalarope, although very common in the West, is exceedingly rare on the 

 Atlantic coast of the United States and I have never met with a specimen living, nor do I 

 now remember hearing of an anthontii; instance of its recent capture, at least in New Eng- 

 laml. It .lues, however, occur east of the Mississippi, as it breeds in Illinois. According 

 to notes, this Phalarope is quite unique among birds, as it is affirmed that the female is 

 not only brighter in plumage than the male but that she does all the courting, while the 

 male sits on the eggs after they are deposited. Mr. F. T. Jenks of Providence, who has 

 been among these birds when they were breeding, assures me that the above mentioned 

 facts are true and others have asserted the same thing. In the face of all these witnesses, 

 I shall not venture a remark but will merely tell the tale to my readers as it is told to me. 

 Wilson's Phalaropc arrives from the South with other shore birds and departs with them in 

 the autumn. 



PHALAROPUS HYPERBOREUS. 



Northern Phalarope. 

 Pha/erojnu hyperboreus TK.WJI., Man., II; 1820, 709. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, rather slender. Size, small. Bill, slender and but slightly longer thnn head. Legs, not long. Lat- 

 eral toe membranes, wide, and scalloped at each phalnngeal j lint, while the basal ones are large. Tail, considerably round- 

 ed. Tongue, lung, thin, and slender, narrowing toward tip which is pointed. 



COLOR. Ailuli. Above, very dark ashy-brown, darkest on head and lightest on rump, mixed with bright chestnut on 

 back. A ring of chestnut-red surrounds neck and a stripe of tin- ^ame color extends down sides of it. Tips of greater wing 

 coverts and under portions of body, white, with the sides tinged with ashy mixed with reddish. 



Youm/. 1 ack the chestnut markings of the adult and the feathers above are sometimes edged with reddish, other- 

 wise similar. Iris, brown, bill and feet, black, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the small size, short, slender, ]x>inted bill, rounded tail, wide, scalloped, lateral toe membranes and 

 Msal i incs. Distributed, as a summer resident, throughout the circumpolar Arctic Regions; wintering in the South 

 Temjicratc Zone. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Eastern America. Length, 7'75; stretch, 13'75; wing, 4'55; tail, 2'25; bill, 

 1-00; tar-u-. -80. Longest specimen, 8 00; greatest extent of wing, 14-50; Ion . 4'00; tail, 2'50; bill, MO; tarsus, 



86. Shortest specimen, 7'50; smallest extent of wing, 13'00; shortest wing, 4'50; tail, 2'00; bill, '90; tarsus, '75. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND E(i(.S. 



Egi/s, placed on the ground in a depression of the soil, on a little grass. They are from two to four in number, rather 

 pyrifoi-m in <\i:>i**, varying from greenish to yellowish-ash in color, spotted and blotched irregularly, thickly, and usually 

 ly, with brown of varying shades. Dimensions from '75 x J'02 to 'SOxl'oO. 



II A KITS. 



Off the eastern and southern side of Grand Menan are spots where the tide rushing 

 out of the BayofFundy, meets the waters of the ocean, causing a peculiar agitation on 

 the surface. These are called rips by the fishermen and their presence is not only detect- 

 ed by the whirling of the water but also by the floating sea weed and debris brought down 



