602 



6 



observed by him previously to the early part of June, and was found breeding numerously in the 

 south-eastern portion of the country ; and once he met with it nesting near the highest portion of 

 the mountains of Bosuda Alamyta, on the 31st May, and on the 31st July on the island of Aehae. 

 Von Schrenck (Amur-Reise, p. 418) says that he shot one on the 21st August (2nd September) 

 on the Upper Amoor ; and Dr. Taczanowski writes (J. f. O. 1873, p. 102) that Dr. Dybowski 

 says it is rare in Darasun during migration and was observed early in September. Pere David 

 obtained one at Takoo, in Northern China, in November; Mr. Swinhoe (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 315) 

 says that flocks come down the Chinese coast as early as October, and some do not return till 

 very late ; he has procured them off the Amoy coast in May, in nearly complete summer plumage. 

 It was found in Japan, on the lakes and marshes to the north and west of the Bay of Hakodadi, 

 by the expedition under Commodore Perry. It has also been met with as far south as the Aru 

 Islands, from which locality a pair are said to be in the British Museum ; and Professor Schlegel 

 has examined specimens from Celebes, the Moluccas, and Amboina. 



In the Nearctic Region the present species is likewise widely distributed, being found, 

 according to Professor Baird, throughout the whole of temperate North America, though only 

 found breeding in the extreme north. On the east coast I found it in New Brunswick, where in 

 the Bay of Fundy it is numerous ; and on the west side it is recorded by Mr. Dall (B. of Alaska, 

 p. 290) as very common all along the Yukon, and its eggs were found at Pastolik and Unalaklik. 

 Mr. E. Brown also (Ibis, 1868, p. 424) met with it on Vancouver's Island. To the southward it 

 has been met with as low as Guatemala ; Messrs. Sclater and Salvin record it from Duenas, and 

 Mr. Salvin informs me that he obtained it at Atitlan in 1862. I may add that, according to 

 Dr. E. von Martens (J. f. O. 1859, p. 220), one was found dead in Biddle's Bay, Bermuda, in 

 March 1848, and a female was killed with a stick on the following day in Hamilton water, and 

 and in March 1852 a male was killed in a similar manner. 



The present species is extremely tame and confiding in its habits, and appears to have no 

 fear whatever of man and no suspicion of danger. If one is wounded or killed, the others 

 belonging to the same flock, instead of seeking safety in flight, will at once fly down to it ; and 

 Mr. Seebohm tells me that when in Norway this spring he shot one out of a flock of six, and the 

 rest, though at first frightened by the report of the gun, almost immediately returned to their 

 dead comrade, and were all five killed by the second discharge. The Phalarope swims with ease, 

 and when on the water resembles a miniature Teal, as it carries itself very like a Duck ; but 

 being extremely light, it swims very high in the water, almost on the surface, like an egg-shell, 

 and is very seldom seen sitting at all deep like most of the Ducks. Though it swims with such 

 facility it can walk with almost as much ease as most of the Sandpipers, and is frequently 

 observed searching for food at the edges of pools. It feeds on worms, small shrimps, Crustacea, 

 and marine insects of various descriptions, which it picks up on the surface of the water or on the 

 edges of pools or small lakes ; and Mr. Collett informs me that he has seen it diving half under 

 the surface of the water in search of food. He found the remains of larvas of aquatic insects in 

 the stomachs of those he examined. It rises from the surface of the water with ease, and drops 

 on to it again, paddles about, continually nodding its head as it swims. Its flight much resembles 

 that of a Sandpiper ; and when on the wing it is exceedingly difficult to distinguish it from the 

 common Dunlin. As it rises it utters a note resembling the word tirrr. It breeds, as above 



