76 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 



96 [223] Lobipes lobatus (Linn.). 



Northern Phalarope ; " Sea Goose " ; " Web-footed Peep." 



Irregular, but at times common transient visitor. May 18 to 30; July 31 

 to October 11. 



As an example of the very large flocks of this phalarope that are at times 

 seen off our coast, resting and feeding on the surface of the water, the one 

 reported by Mr. George H. Mackay'^ easily takes first place. From May 25 to 

 May 30, 1894, he observed a flock near the " Pigs " off Swampscott of " 10,000." 



In the fall migrations it is unusual to see this bird in anything but the imnia- 

 ture and winter plumage. One in full plumage, apparently a female, was seen in 

 the water off Lakeman's Beach, Ipswich, on August 13, 1918. 



Both the Red and the Northern Phalarope are charmingly unsuspecting and 

 allow of close approach. The latter bird has a variety of notes. At times it 

 twitters like a Barn Swallow, at times it emits a single harsh note like that of the 

 Eave Swallow. Again a gentle ee -ep is emitted, or a sharp quip. Although it 

 may alight on the land it seems to prefer to alight on the water, which it does 

 gracefully with feet thrust out in front, and afterward walks up on the shore. 

 It swims with a graceful nodding of the head and often whirls about in circles. 



The adults in nuptial plumage look dark above with two yellow stripes on the 

 back, a white line over the eye and on the wings, white below with a rufous patch 

 on each side of the neck. The females are larger and are more richly colored 

 than the males. The delicate needle bill is a good field-mark. 



97 [224] Steganopus tricolor Vieill. 



Wilson's Phalarope. 



Accidental visitor from the West. 



In addition to the 1874 specimen entered in the original Memoir I am able 

 to give another record for the County: a female shot at Salisbury on August 

 18, 1907, and obtained for me by Mr. John H. Hardy, Jr. It is now in my 

 collection. No. 1260. 



1 Mackay, G. H. Auk, vol. 11, p. 226, 1894. 



