PHatarorpr. GRALLATORES. PHALAROPUS. _ 163 
seem to extend far beyond the limits of the arctic circle. In 
summer, during the breeding season, they retire to very high 
latitudes, and are amongst the few kinds met with by navi- 
gators in those icy and desolate regions. In their habits 
they are much more aquatic than the T'’ringas, &c. passing 
the greater part of their lives on the water, and swimming 
with great buoyancy and ease; upon this element also they 
obtain their food, consisting of marine insects and worms 
that live in the water, and move near the surface ; for it does 
not appear that these birds are enabled to dive, never having 
been observed to exercise that faculty, either when feeding, 
or in their endeavours to escape from any threatened danger. 
In addition to their lobated feet, they possess other peculia- 
rities indicative of aquatic habits; for we find the tarsus 
slightly flattened (so as to offer less resistance to the water, 
when drawn forwards to make t’e stroke in swimming), and 
the plumage of the lower parts of the body rendered, by its 
thick and close-set character, more impervious to the water, 
similar to that of the Laride and Anatide. They fly with 
great strength and swiftness, and, when on wing, are not 
easily distinguished from the T'’ringas. The nidification and 
colour of the eggs of this species have not yet been de- 
scribed. 
PiaTte 28. represents the Phalarope, as killed in autumn, 
when it has nearly acquired the winter or grey plu- 
mage; and again in that which it assumes as spring 
advances, and called the summer, or nuptial dress. 
In the former state, the forehead, crown of the head, 
throat, fore part and sides of the neck, breast, and the 
whole of the under parts are white. Hind part of the 
head, ear-coverts, and streak down the nape of the 
neck, greyish-black. Upper parts of the body fine 
bluish-grey, intermixed with a few feathers of a greyish- 
black, margined with pale yellowish-brown and white ; 
these being the remains of the summer plumage. Wing 
L2 
~ 
Food. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Winter 
plumage. 
