636 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAJ^ SURVEY. 



List of s2)ecimens. 



STEGANOPUS WILSONI, [Sab.) Coues. 

 Wilson's Phalarope. 



Breeds throughout the country, from the Eed Eiver to the Eocky 

 Mountains, and in suitable places common, though never observed in 

 large numbers at any one place. I had no opportunity of observing it 

 after August, and am inclined to think it retires southward in advance 

 of most of the waders. Even during the latter part of August, when 

 other waders were regularly flockiog, I never saw the Phalarope in 

 companies of more than half a dozen individuals, and it probably never 

 makes up in large flocks, like the other two species. At Pembina, it 

 was breeding about reedy pools and prairie sloughs in June. I was not 

 so fortunate, however, as to discover a nest, though I searched faith- 

 fully more than once. At Mouse Eiver, during the month of August, 

 it was constantly seen on the pools near the stream. Newly fledged 

 birds taken in August are altogether different from the adults in plu- 

 mage and color of the naked parts. This first plumage, which strikingly 

 resembles on the upper parts that of the Tringa tnaculata, is worn only 

 for a brief period before it is exchanged for uniform ashy and white, 

 which characterizes the winter state. The birds are extremely gentle 

 and confiding during the breeding-season, and may be approached and 

 destroyed without the slightest difficulty. 



An excellent contribution to the biography of Wilson's Phalarope 

 has recently been made by Mr. E. W. Nelson, in the Bulletin of the 

 Nuttall Ornithological Club, vol. ii, No. 2, April, 1877, pp. 38-43. 



