THE STILT-WALKERS. 43 



closely set ; and the toes being united at the base by a web, besides being bordered by a continuation 

 of that membrane, make the feet efficient as paddles, although they are equally adapted for 

 progression on dry land. The accomplishments of the Phalarope are, therefore, very varied — they 

 fly rapidly, like the Snipes ; run, after the fashion of the Sandpipers ; and swim, not only with all the 

 facility of Ducks, but venture out upon the surface of the ocean even in the midst of the roughest 

 waves. During the breeding season they repair to the coast, where they build a neat nest, composed 

 of grass and weeds, upon the sea-shore, or in some slight hollow on the ground. The eggs are four 

 in number. The usual habitat of the Phalaropes is in the Arctic and Northern Seas, from whence 

 they but rarely wander far, their migrations usually being confined to the surface of the ocean. 



THE HYPERBOREAN PHALAROPE. 



The Hyperborean Phalarope (Lobipes hyperboreus, or Phalaropus hyperboreus) resembles the 

 Sandpipers in some respects, but differs from them in the comparative shortness of its tail and 

 slenderness of its beak. Upon the upper portions of the body the feathers are blackish grey, and on 

 the lower back and shoulders black edged with reddish yellow ; the sides of the nape are rust-red, 

 the throat and under parts grey, shading into white on the sides and crop. The eye is brown, the beak 

 black, and the foot lead-grey, with the web and projecting edges yellowish and grey. The male is 

 from six inches and three-quarters to seven inches long, and from twelve inches and two-thirds to 

 twelve inches and three-quarters broad ; the wing measures four, and the tail two inches. The female 

 is about a line longer, and one inch broader than her mate. 



These birds inhabit the north-eastern portions of Europe and Northern Asia, and are numerous 

 upon the extensive lakes and rivers of Siberia and North America ; their range, however, probably does 

 not extend far south, even during the course of their migrations. With us they frequent the Orkney 

 Islands, where they arrive about July, and depart again as winter approaches. In its habits this species 

 is essentially aquatic. It swims with the utmost buoyancy and ease, though it is not known to dive 

 even when hard pressed ; and, according to Audubon, indulges in the remarkable habit of alighting 

 whilst at sea, even at a distance of one hundred miles from shore, on beds of floating seaweed, over 

 which its lobed feet enable it to run with great lightness and rapidity. Its flight is strong and swift, 

 but when on the ground its movements are inferior in agility to those of the Tringas. Insects, worms, 

 and minute mollusca form its principal means of subsistence, these it obtains from among tangled 

 beds of floating seaweed, or as it moves lightly over the surface of the water. The call is a sharp 

 clear " tweet, tweet." Audubon mentions having seen little parties of these birds living in pairs 

 upon the small fresh-water lakes in Labrador, near which they also breed. The nest, which is usually 

 made in a hollow in marshes, or on the islands of fresh-water lakes, is formed principally of grass, 

 and covered with a few bits of hay or moss. The eggs, from one to four in number, have usually 

 a dark olive-coloured shell, thickly spotted with black. The young grow rapidly, and are anxiously 

 tended by their parents, who employ a variety of artifices to lure strangers from die nest 



THE RED PHALAROPE. 

 The Red Phalarope {Phalaropus rufus) represents a group of the above birds recognisable by 

 their superior length of tail and the construction of the beak, which is as long as the head, and flat and 

 curved at its extremity. This species is larger than the Phalaropus hyperboreus, being fully eight 

 inches long, and nearly fourteen broad ; the wings measure five inches, and the tail two inches and 

 three-quarters. Upon the crown, back, and shoulders, the feathers are black, edged with rust-red ; 

 the lower back, upper wing-covers, and sides of the tail are dark grey ; and the under side is of a 

 beautiful brownish red. The female is jet-black upon the crown and nape, and exhibits two greyish 



