196 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



Habits. — The nomadic migrations of the Gray Phalarope are, 

 as a rule, neither very extended nor very regular. When its northern 

 haunts are disturbed by unusually severe tempests, or long-con- 

 tinued frosts, it draws southwards, often in considerable numbers, 

 but such movements are not made every year, and the Gray 

 Phalarope must be classed as a bird that winters as far north as 

 it possibly can with safety. Except during the breeding season, 

 this species is not much on land, but spends the greater part of 

 its time on the sea, where it is frequently met with hundreds of 

 miles from shore, even following in the wake of whales for the 

 sake of catching the various marine animals that are disturbed 

 each time those mighty creatures "blow." This singular habit 

 has acquired for the Gray Phalarope the name of " Whale Bird." 

 Sabine states that he has seen this species swimming about 

 amongst icebergs, miles from shore. It is most expert at 

 swimming, floating very lightly on the water, with a peculiar 

 bobbing motion of the head, but it is not known to dive. At all 

 times it appears to prefer to swim out of danger rather than to 

 fly. It is also remarkably social, and during winter gathers 

 into flocks, sometimes of very large size. The call - note of 

 the Gray Phalarope is a shrill weet, and the alarm note, uttered 

 chiefly during flight, has been described as a rapidly repeated 

 bick-a bick-a. The Gray Phalaropes that have from time to time 

 visited our islands were very tame and confiding, doubtless 

 because they had had little experience of man ; but Hume states 

 that in Scinde they were wary enough, and the flocks rose 

 simultaneously as soon as a boat approached them. The food of 

 this species consists principally of insects, but crustaceans, small 

 worms, and scraps of vegetable substances are also eaten. 



Nidiflcation. — The Gray Phalarope is a late breeder. It 

 resorts to the breeding grounds in May, pairs towards the end of 

 that month, and the eggs are usually laid during the first half of 

 June. They make their nests on the swampy margins of the 

 Arctic pools and lakes, in much the same sort of places as those 

 selected by the Red-necked Phalarope. The nest is merely a 

 hollow in the moss, or lichen-covered ground, but sometimes a 

 few dry leaves are added as a lining. The eggs are four in 

 number, pale buff with an olive tinge in ground colour, heavily 



