330 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



water where the rotating motion produced by alternate movement of 

 the lobed feet creates a little whirlpool. This whirling is maintained 

 at a rapid rate, and from three to forty revolutions may be made with- 

 out stopping. As a bird rotates, the bill is rapidly dabbed down into 

 the water, at a rate in some cases of 150 dabs per minute. Evidently 

 the success of this method depends upon the light conditions because 

 little or no "whirling" is noted on cloudy days (Bowles and Howell, 

 1912, p. 67). On their breeding grounds these birds have been ob- 

 served to dart in zigzag fashion along the margins of the pools in their 

 search for food (Nelson, 1887, p. 99). 



The nesting season of the Northern Phalarope is exceedingly short, 

 a point which was mentioned in connection with their reappearance 

 in June and July along the California coast. Extreme nesting dates 

 available are June 11, 1908 (Dixon, MS), and June 30, 1899 (Grinnell, 

 1900, p. 21). Nelson (1887, p. 99) states that fresh eggs are rarely 

 found after June 20. 



In North America this species nests throughout most of the 

 northern half of Canada and Alaska on the banks of ponds or streams 

 near either fresh or salt water, seeming however to prefer the former. 

 The nest itself may consist of a small collection of marsh grass, some- 

 times arranged on the top of a tussock of moss, or more commonly 

 on the level surface. Little or no care is shown by the birds in con- 

 structing the nest. Grinnell (loc. eit.) describes nests in the Kotzebue 

 Sound region as being "... neatly moulded depressions in the 

 grassy sod, usually on a hummock at the side of a pool of water. 

 There was no lining except that formed by the broken-down grasses 

 underlying the nesting cavity." 



The eggs of the Northern Phalarope usually number three or four, 

 sets of the latter number being much the more common. Turner {in 

 Macoun and Macoun, 1909, p. 159) is authority for the statement that 

 five eggs sometimes comprise a set. "The ground [color] varies from 

 dark greenish-olive or brownish-olive, through various lighter drab- 

 tints, nearly to a buffy-brown, and in one instance to a light grayish- 

 drab. The markings are usually very bold and heavy, consisting of 

 large spots and the still larger splashes produced by their confluence, 

 mingled with dots and scratches in interminable confusion. The 

 markings are, in general, pretty evenly distributed, sometimes aggre- 

 gated about the butt, and in rarer instances forming a complete, 

 definite circle. In a few instances all the markings are mere dots. In 

 general, the heaviness and size of the markings bear some proportion 

 to the intensity of the ground-color. The color of the markings is 

 dark bistre, chocolate, and sometimes still lighter brown" (Goues, 

 1874, p. 471) . The eggs measure in inches 1.10 to 1.30 by 0.75 to 0.85, 

 and average 1.20 by 0.82. The eggs of the Northern are said to be 



