BIRDS. 99 



Phalabopus lobatus (Linn.). Northern Phalarope (Esk. CMpichunguk). 



As summer approaches on the Arctic shores and coast of Bering Sea, the numberless pools, 

 until now hidden under a snowy covering, become bordered or covered with water; the mud about 

 their edges begins to soften and through the water the melting ice in the bottom looks pale green. 



The ducks and geese fill the air with their loud resounding cries, and the rapid wing-strokes of 

 arriving and departing flocks add a heavy bass to the chorus which greets the opening of another 

 glad season in the wilds of the cheerless north. Amid this loud-tongued multitude suddenly 

 appears the graceful, fairy-like form of the Northern Phalarope. Perhaps, as the hunter sits by 

 the border of a secluded pool still half covered with snow and ice, a pair of slight wings flit before 

 him, and there, riding on the water, scarcely making a ripple, floats this charming and elegant bird. 

 It glides hither and thither on the water apparently drifted by its fancy, and skims about the 

 pool like an autumn leaf wafted before the playful zephyrs on some embosomed lakelet in the 

 forest. The delicate tints and slender fragile form, combining grace of color and outline with 

 a peculiarly dainty elegance of motion, render this the most lovely and attractive among its 

 handsome congeners. 



The first arrivals reach Saint Michaels in full plumage from May 14 to 15, and their num- 

 ber is steadily augmented until, the last few days of May and 1st of June, they are on hand in 

 full force and ready to set about the season's cares. Every pool now ]^s from one to several 

 pairs of these birds gliding in restless, zigzag motion around its border, the slender necks at 

 times darting quickly right or left as the bright black eyes catch sight of some minute particle of 

 food. They may be watched with pleasure for hours, and present a picture of exquisite gentleness 

 which renders them an unfailing source of interest. The female of this bird, as is the case with 

 the two allied species, is much more richly colored than the male and possesses all the "rights" 

 demanded by the most radical reformers. 



As the season comes on when the flames of love mouut high, the dull-colored male moves about 

 the pool, apparently 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 oif; 

 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, theu 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 intervals rises on wing above him and, poised a foot or two over his back, makes a lialf 

 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 com- 

 fortably married, while mater familias no longer needs to use her seductive ways and charming 

 blandishments to draw his notice. About the first of June the dry, rounded side of a little 

 knoll, near some small pond, has four dark, heavily-marked eggs laid in a slight hollow upon 

 whatever lining the spot affords or, more rarely, upon a few dry straws and grass-blades brought 

 and loosely laid together by the birds. Here the captive male is introduced to new duties and 

 spends half his time on the eggs, while the female keeps about the pool close by. In due time the 

 young are hatched and come forth, beautiful little balls of buft' and brown. 



During incubation, if the nest is ai)proached, the parent usually flies off the eggs when the 

 intruder is some yards away, and proceeds to feed about the surface or edge of the nearest pool 

 as though nothing unusual had occurred. At times the parent shows a little anxiety, and swims 

 restlessly about the pool, uttering a low, sharp, metallic "pleep,"pleep." When a bird leaves the eggs 

 it is usually joined at once by its mate. In oneor two instances the parent bird came gliding stealth- 

 ily through the grass to the nest while I was occupied in packing the eggs in my basket. Fresh eggs 

 are rarely found after June 20, and by the middle to 20th of July the young are fledged and on 

 the wing. By the 12th to 15th of July a few of the ashy feathers of the autumnal plumage ap- 

 pear, and soon after old and young begin to gather in parties of from five to a hundred or more 



