542 THE WILSON PHALAROPE. 



lacking the pearl-gray and chestnut, — slaty-gray and rusty instead; general ap- 

 pearance of back and wings brownish gray, with blackish centers of feathers and 

 some ochraceous edging ; black on sides of head and neck almost obsolete ; rufous 

 tinge of chest very slight. Adults in winter: "Above plain ash-gray; upper tail- 

 coverts, superciliary stripe, and lower parts white, the chest and sides of breast 

 shaded with pale gray. Young : Top of head, back, and scapulars dusky blackish, 

 the feathers distinctly bordered with buff; wing-coverts also bordered with pale 

 buff or whitish ; upper tail-coverts, superciliary stripe, and lower parts white, the 

 neck tinged with buff" (Ridgw.). Adult female length 9.70 (246.4) ; wing 5.23 

 (132.8); tail 2.03 (51.6); bill 1.40 (35.6); tarsus 1.38 (35.1); mi.ddle toe and 

 claw 1.20 (30.5). Adult male length 8.75 (222.3) ; wing 4.69 (119.1) ; tail 2.17 

 (55.1) ; bill 1.25 (31.8) ; tarsus 1.26 (32.) ; middle toe and claw 1.06 (26.9). 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink to Robin size ; pearl-gray, chestnut, and black 

 in masses distinctive in adult female. This bird superficially resembles the pre- 

 ceding in some of its plumage ; its larger size and especially longer bill, and larger 

 feet, as well as really different color pattern, should be noted. 



Nesting. — Not definitely known to breed in Ohio. Nest, a shallow depression 

 in the earth lined sparingly with grass, or not. Bggs, 3 or 4, grayish or brownish 

 buff, speckled, spotted, and blotched with dark brown. 



General Range. — Temperate North America, chiefly the interior, breeding 

 from northern Illinois and Utah northward to the Saskatchewan region ; south in 

 winter to Brazil and Patagonia. 



Range in Ohio. — "Not common spring and fall migrant." (Wheaton). Pos- 

 sibly breeds in northwestern Ohio. 



IN view of Mr. E. W. Nelson's remarkable discoveries in northeastern 

 Illinois, Dr. Wheaton was led to surmise that these birds might be found 

 breeding in at least the northwestern corner of our state. Nothing has, 

 however, come to light to sustain this conjecture, and it is pretty generally 

 understood that we are too far east to expect such a favor. 



Altho it has been frequently copied, I cannot forbear to reproduce in 

 this connection a portion of Mr. Nelson's unrivalled description •} 



"During 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 harsh 

 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 com- 

 mences, and is at first indicated by the increasing solicitude they show for 

 each other's welfare. The appearance of a person in their vicinity at this 



1 Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, II., 187;; pp. 38-43. 



