WILSON’S PHALAROPE 107 
back in a narrow stripe, losing itself in the ashy 
gray of the back. A strip of black from the 
base of the bill passing below and behind the 
eye and down the side of the neck where it 
changes into purplish chestnut behind and si- 
enna brown in front, this gradually fading into 
the white of the throat and under parts. Above, 
ashy gray, mottled and flecked with deep red- 
brown. Rump and upper tail coverts nearly 
white. Wings folding quite a little beyond the 
tail, brownish gray, with fine white tips to the 
coverts. Primaries dusky, the shafts white, 
darkening at the ends. Tail grayish brown 
with tiny edging of white. Entire under parts 
white, the feathers thick and close like those of 
a water fowl. The legs rather long and flat- 
tened laterally as though (‘‘I axes the lady’s 
parding’’ but she will wear ’em) her trousers 
had just been creased; the feet black, with long, 
slender toes having a marginal webbing. Iris 
brown. Length from eight and one-half to nine 
inches; extent about fifteen inches. 
The male is smaller, and much duller in mark- 
ings and color. The brightness of his lady’s 
garb is very faintly shown in his clothes. A 
plain, sad-colored, gray and white, hen-pecked 
