THE NORTHERN PHALAROPE. 



{Phalaropus lobatus.) 



The Northern Phalarope has a wide 

 range, extending throughout the north- 

 ern portion of the Northern Hemisphere 

 and in winter reaching the tropics. It 

 breeds only in Arctic latitudes. It is a 

 bird of the ocean, and seldom is observed 

 inland except as a rare migrant early in 

 May or in October. Then it ''frequents 

 slow streams or marshy pools." 



This Phalarope belongs to the shore 

 birds and to a family that contains but 

 three known species. Two of these are 

 sea birds. The other, Wilson's phalar- 

 ope, is an inhabitant of the interior of 

 North America. Their feet are webbed, 

 and usually the two marine forms, or sea 

 snipe, as they are sometimes called, mi- 

 grate' in flocks far from land. Mr. Chap- 

 man says : 'T have seen it in great num- 

 bers about one hundred miles off Barne- 

 gat, New Jersey, in May. For several 

 hours the steamer passed through flocks, 

 which were swimming on the ocean. They 

 arose in a body at our approach, and 

 in close rank whirled away to the right 

 or left in search of new feeding grounds." 



It is not an exaggeration to say that 

 it is one of the most beautiful of our 

 aquatic birds. All its motions are grace- 

 ful. It possesses a quiet dignity and 

 elegance while swimming in search of 

 food, which it frequently obtains by 

 thrusting its bill into the water. In this 

 manner it obtains a large number of 

 marine animals and flies that may be 

 on the surface of the water. When on 

 the shore it may be seen wading and 

 swimming in ponds near the coast. 



Dr. Coues wrote in an interesting man- 

 ner of this bird. He said that the North- 

 ern Phalarope is "a curious compound of 

 a wader and swimmer. Take one of our 

 common little sandpipers, fit it for sea 

 by making oars of its feet, and launch 

 it upon the great deep, you have a North- 

 ern Phalarope. You may see a flotilla 

 of these little animated cockle-boats rid- 



ing lightly on the waves anywhere off 

 the coast of New England.' 



Its habits at the mating season are 

 most interesting, and no words can better 

 describe them than those of Mr. E. W. 

 Nelson : '*As the season comes on when 

 the flames of love mount high, the dull- 

 colored male moves about the pool, ap- 

 parently heedless of the surrounding fair 

 ones. Such stoical indifference usually 

 appears too much for the feelings of 

 some of the fair ones to bear. A female 

 coyly glides close to him and bows her 

 head in pretty submissiveness, but he 

 turns away, pecks *at a bit of food and 

 moves off; she follows and he quickens 

 his speed, but in vain; he is her choice, 

 and she proudly arches her neck and in 

 mazy circles passes and repasses close 

 before the harassed bachelor. He turns 

 his breast first to one side, then to the 

 other, as though to escape, but there is 

 his gentle wooer ever pressing her suit 

 before him. Frequently he takes flight 

 to another part of the pool, all to no 

 purpose. If with affected indifference 

 he tries to feed she swims along side by 

 side, almost touching him, and at in- 

 tervals rises on wing above him and, 

 poised a foot or two over his back, 

 m.akes a half dozen quick, sharp wing- 

 strokes, producing a series of sharp, 

 whistling noises in rapid succession. In 

 the course of time it is said that water 

 will wear the hardest rock, and it is 

 certain that time and importunity have 

 their full effect upon the male of this 

 Phalarope, and soon all are comfortably 

 married, while mater familias no longer 

 needs to use her seductive ways and 

 charming blandishments to draw his no- 

 tice." 



Then after the four dark and heavily 

 marked eggs are laid the "captive male 

 is introduced to new duties, and spends 

 half his time on the eggs, while the fe- 

 male keeps about the pool close by." 



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