Nov., 1900] BIRDvS OF THE KOTZEBUE SOUND RECHON. 21 



than at St. Michaels, where Nelson says this species begins nesting early in June 

 and toward the last of the month most of the young are hatched. My three sets 

 of the Red Phalarope's eggs are fairly alike in general appearance, being olive- 

 buff, with dots, spots and blotches of bistre, and shell-markings of wood brown. 

 These spottings are more numerous at the large ends of the eggs. In shape the 

 eggs vary between subpyriform and ovate pyriform. The eleven specimens aver- 

 age I.25X.85, the extremes being 1.33X.89, 1.17X.85. 



Phalaropiis lobatus (Linn.). 

 Northern Phalarope. 



This beautiful species was a common bird in the Kotzebue region. It was 

 not observed in the fall in the Kowak Valley, but in the spring, in the vicinitj^ of 

 our winter camp, its arrival was on May 22nd, though then only in small numbers. 

 In June in the Kowak delta it was much more numerous. On the 20th I was out 

 collecting across an open tundra between two lagoons, when I came to a pond on 

 rather high ground, which was scarcel}- twenty j^ards across, and margined with 

 short, fine grass. Here were congregated fully fifty Northern Phalaropes, and in 

 their company was one pair of Red Phalaropes. These birds I am confident had 

 not yet begun nesting, for they were evidently just mating. \"arious coquettish 

 antics w^ere indulged in at frequent intervals, and such demonstrations would 

 seemingly become contagious, as several pairs would join in with many peeps 

 and flutters. They were feeding on small flies which were swarming in the grass 

 around the edges of the pond, and the rapid, nervous actions of the birds in pick 

 ing among the grass blades were fascinating to watch. The birds were quite tame 

 allowing me to walk within a few feet of them, and if too closely approached, 

 swimming out into the pond or flying but a few yards. In the vicinity of Cape 

 Blossom I found the Northern Phalaropes breeding in considerable numbers 

 though they were well distributed, a few being found about the borders of nearly 

 every lake and slough. Along the lagoon back of the Mission I discovered several 

 nests. On June 29th, a set of 4 eggs, incubation advanced; on the 30th a set of 4 

 fresh eggs, and one of four eggs nearly ready to hatch; and on July ist, a set of 

 3 eggs, incubation advanced. In each of these cases the male parent was flushed 

 from the nest, and usually before I had come within twenty yards. The birds 

 would very unconcernedly fly to a pond at some distance and begin feeding with- 

 out paying any further attention to me. The nests were neatly moulded deprts- 

 sions in the grassy sod, usually on a hummock at the side of a pool of water. 

 There was no lining except that formed by the broken-down grasses underlying 

 the nest cavity. The eggs in color and markings as well as shape, closely resemble 

 those of the Red Phalarope, but are smaller. Eleven eggs of the Northern Phala- 

 rope average 1.16X.82, the extremes being 1.22X.85 a"d 1.13X.80. On the 2nd of 

 July a heavy southwest storm set in and the succeeding unusually high tide 

 inundated much of the flats bordering the lagoons, just such ground as was selected 

 by the phalaropes for nesting sites. Hundreds of their eggs must have been 

 destroyed. In July '9S, the first juveniles, nearly fledged, were seen on the 27th, 

 and two days later small companies had made their cppearance on pools and 

 ponds. Within a week the phalaropes became quite .scarce, probably joining in 



