114 NOTES ON THE 
PHALAROPUS TRICOLOR (VieILLor). (224.) 
WILSON’S PHALAROPE. 
Of all the shore birds which are ever seen about our ponds 
and numerous lakes, Wilson’s Phalarope is the most beautiful. 
Reaching the lower borders of the State by the 25th of April, 
they gradually spread over its whole extent where the food- 
conditions invite them, and after about three weeks, build their 
nests in canebrakes, and reed-embraced pools, in close prox- 
imity to those of several other species of water birds. The 
nests are constructed of fine reeds, grass, and invariably a little 
moss,—sometimes principally of moss with no reeds and but 
little grass, and is a loose structure, placed on a hummock of 
moss, or in a tussock of reeds or grass. 
They contain three to four olivaceous-drab colored eggs, 
splotched all over with large spots of dark umber. These 
colors vary exceedingly in different specimens. 
The young are following the parent by the third week in 
June, and are full grown by the first week in August. They 
remain but little later than the other Phalaropes in the autumn 
generally, although not very infrequently individuals have been 
obtained in October. 
Their chief food seems to be mollusea, but embraces excep- 
tionally nearly everything eaten by the other Phalaropes, and 
the different species of Snipe. 
Their habits are so occult that it is no easy task to observe 
them. Wading about in a busy, contented manner in a shal- 
low pool, picking out its food nimbly, and unerringly, or 
creeking a note repeatedly that is much more easily learned 
than written, they seem the embodiment of beauty, grace, and 
absolute contentment amidst the humblest circumstances of en- 
vironment. 
A good number of these birds have found their way into the 
difierent taxidermal and scientific collections in the State, in 
different stages of developement, and many more find their way 
into the markets in snipe season during fall shooting. 
My greatest diffuculty in getting the eggs of this species into 
my records rightly has been the popular confounding of the 
birds with the ‘‘snipes.” I have insisted upon the bird accom- 
panying the nests and eggs until in two instances I have at- 
tained certainly, and in one fairly so, although I have never 
had the great pleasure of securing them myself. Their local 
breeding habits are above any question. 
