Wilson's phalaeope. 465 



and is not exceeded in numbers by even the erer-present Spotted Sand-piper. As is the 

 <!ase with several other species of birds, Lake Michigan appears to form a limit to its 

 common oconrrence in the eastern portion of its range. On the west it extends to the 

 Eocliy Mountains, and between these limits it has been recorded during the breeding- 

 season from the Saskatchewan to the Arkansas (Cones) and to the city of Mexico 

 (Nnttall). It is more closely oonfiiied to its favorite haunts than most water-birds, and 

 this may, in a measure, account for the little hitherto known regarding its habits. Dar- 

 ing the first two weeks of May, the exact date varying with the season, this beautiful 

 bird first makes its appearance in Northeastern Illinois. Its arrival is heralded by a few 

 females, which arrive first, and are found singly about the marshes. At this time the 

 females have a peculiar hartli note, which I have heard but a few times, and only from 

 solitary individuals before the arrival of the main body. 



A few days later small flocks, embracing both sexes, may be found along the borders 

 of grassy pools, or lying at midday on the sunny side of some warm knoll in the marsh. 

 As the breeding-season approaches they become more restless, flying from place to place, 

 and finally separate into small parties of two or three pairs. About the middle of May 

 their love-making commences, and is at first indicated by the increasing solicitude they 

 show for each othei's welfare. The appearance of a person in their vicinity at this time 

 is the signal for all the birds near to come circling about, thongh generally not within 

 easy ganshot. By a oarefal approach one may now and then find a small party swim- 

 ming about in some secluded pool. The charming grace of movement exhibited at such 

 times, combined with their tasteful elegance of atfire, form one of the most pleasing 

 sights one could witness, as they swim buoyantly from side to side of the pool, grace- 

 fully nodding their heads ; now pausing an instant to arrange a feather, or to daintily 

 ' gather some fragment of food, and now floating idly about, wafted by the slight breeze 

 which at intervals ripples the surface of the water. A more common, but scarcely less 

 pleasing sight is presented when, unconscious of observatior), they walk sedately along 

 the border of the water, never departing from their usualeasy grace of movement. 

 Their food is generally found in such places, where the receding water famishes a 

 bountiful supply. The only demonstrations I have observed during the pairing-time 

 consist of a kind of solemn bowing of the head and body ; bat sometimes, with the head 

 lowered and thrust forward, they will run back and forth in front of the object of their 

 regard ; or again a pair may often be seen to salute each other by alternately bowing or 

 lowering their heads ; but their courtship is characterized by a lack of the rivalry and 

 vehemence usually exhibited by birds. A male is often accompanied by two females at 

 first, but as soon as his choice is made the rejected bird joins her fortunes with some 

 more impressible swain. 



The nesting-site is usually in some thin tuft of grass on a level spot, bat often in an 

 open place concealed by only a few straggling blades of small carices. The male scratches 

 a shallow depression in the soft earth, which is usually lined with a thin layer of frag- 

 ments of old grass blades, upon which the eggs, numbering from three to four, are de- 

 posited about the last of May or first of June. Owing to the low situations in which the 

 nests are placed, the first set of eggj is often destroyed by a heavy fall of rain, causing 

 the water to rise so as to submeige the nest. In this case the second set, numbering 

 two or three, are often deposited in a depression Ecratche(|*in the ground, as at first, but; 

 with no sign of any lining. Accidents of this kind cause the second set of eggs to bo 

 sometimes deposited as late as the last of June. 



The young usually appear abont the third week of June, and are able to fly in about 

 three weeks. Generally a nnmber of pairs ncet upon the same marsh. lu some in- 

 30 



