THE BIRDS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 399 



Family PHALAROPODIDAE. Phalaropes. 



4.1. CrymophiluB fulicarius (Linn.). Eed Phalarope. 



Phalaropwa fulicarius, CoUES, in Elliott's Rpt. Aff. Alaska, 1873; Reprint, 1875, 181; Key, 1890, 



614.— Elliott, Mou. Seal Ids. 1882, 129. 

 Crj/mopMlM fulicarius, Townsbnd, Cruise, Corwin, 1887, 99.— A. O. XJ. Cli. List, 1895, 82.— 

 Sharpb, Cat. B. Br. Mus. XXIV, 1896, 693.— Ridgway, Man. 1896, 144. 



An abundant migrant; found in greatest numbers in the autumn. They arrive 

 about the middle of May in nearly full breeding dress, but soon leave, and few remain 

 after the 10th of June. The first fall arrivals I noted, adult males and females, on 

 July 17; these were very tame, tired, and poor, and a few white feathers of the com 

 ing new plumage were showing among the worn breeding feathers. They landed first 

 on the sandy beaches, but soon spread about the lagoon and ponds ; were generally 

 solitary, and always silent. The later- arriving birds were much the more advanced 

 in molting. Between June, 10 and July 17, I collected several specimens and saw 

 others. These were about the ponds at Polovina, but though they seemed perfectly 

 at home I do not think that they bred. These generally had some injury to the feet. On 

 May 12, when 800 miles southward of Unalaska, we saw this species, and they grad- 

 ually became more abundant as we- approached land. These were almost entirely in 

 the white plumage. Mr. Townsend collected eight specimens between June 8, and 12, 

 1885, on Otter Island. Of the June specimens few have entirely changed to the nup- 

 tial plumage, nearly all having some white on the under parts and about the face. 

 Ko. 118748, ad. 9 , June 21, 1890, W. P., has changed least of all; has much white 

 beneath, some on throat, and a great deal in front of eyes and on forehead. Fall 

 specimens indicate the progress of the molt as follows; No. 64278, ad. $ , July 22, 

 1873, H. W. Elliott, few white feathers mixed in on scapulars, back, breast, and flanks, 

 and scattered on head and neck, except in front of eyes; No. 118762, ad. 9 , July 29, 

 1890, W. P., many old feathers on belly, lew on neck and around bill, head partly 

 white, base of occiput black, back almost changed ; Nos. 151465, ad. S , 151466, ad. 9 , 

 August 7, 1895, D. W. Prentiss, almost entirely changed ; white feathers in the major- 

 ity except immediately around bill and on occiput and nape. No molt of the wings 

 or tail in any specimen. Stomach contents: "Predaceous beetles {Carahidae)J' — 



8. n. J. 



42. Phalaropus lobatus (Linn.). Northern Phalarope. 



Lobipes hyp^1)oreu8,CovES, in Elliott's Rpt. Aff. Alaska, 1873 ; Reprint, 1875, 180 ; Key, 1890, 612.— 



Elliott, Mon. Seal Ids. 1882, 129. 

 Phalaropus hyperboreus, SHarpe, B. Br. Mus. XXIV, 1896, 698. 

 Phalaropus lobatus, A. O. U. Ch. List, 1895, 82.— Ridgway, Man. 1896, 145. 



Principally migratory; but a few breed. Elliott collected young on St. George in 

 1873, and I obtained two just from the eggs on St. Paul, near Eocky Point, on July 2, 

 1890. The birds arrive in small numbers about the end of May and mostly pass 

 northward, only a few pairs remaining on the islands to breed. Elliott found an 

 empty nest on St. George, June 13, 1872. I could find no nest, though the birds soon 

 found the intruder on their domestic affairs. The males show the greatest anxiety, 

 hovering near one, at the same time uttering a shrill series of notes — tweet-tweet — for 

 such a small bird. By constantly noting the movements of the adults I had fixed 

 upon a rather dense growth of sedges, near the open water and some 30 feet from 

 shore, as the place where the young were, and was not disappointed upon wading out 



