The Red Phalarope 



Taken near Santa Barbara 



A WAYSIDE WINK 



Photo by the A uthor 



"Oh would my lady had me thus at bay, 

 To kiss and clip me till I ran away." 



The birds are perfectly aware of my presence, and they do not come 

 too close, except as a wave breaks over the barrier and sweeps the whole 

 company over toward me. In such case, several of the more timid fly, but 

 most of them cast an eye upward in my direction and determine to take 

 chances. When the birds climb up onto a rock, they totter absurdly 

 and pitch forward helplessly, as if their bodies were surprisingly, as they 

 undoubtedly are unexpectedly, heavy. Not infrequently they fall in 

 this fashion, always pitching upon their faces. 



One modest gallant is just taking a bath. Mere sousing by surf is 

 evidently inadequate for this important function, but it needs must have 

 personal attention. The bather therefore tips first to one side and then 

 the other, kicking into the air with the upper foot and scattering spray 

 with the upper wing, while he dips the under one. He changes with 

 incredible swiftness until, his ablutions completed, he rises three or four 



1174 



