The Wilson Phalarope 



Authorities. — Coues (Phalaropus wilsoni), Ibis, 2nd Ser., ii., 1866, p. 263 

 (Colo. R.); Townsend, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. x., 1887, p. 198 (Lassen Co., June); 

 Cooke, U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol. Surv. Bull., no. 35, 1910, p. 18 (distr. and migr.) \ Bowles, 

 Auk, vol. xxviii., 191 1, p. 171 (Santa Barbara); Ray, Condor, vol. xv., 1913, p. in 

 (Tahoe; desc. and photo of nest, eggs); Grinnell, Bryant, and Storer, Game Birds 

 Calif., 1918, p. 332 (desc, occurrence, habits, etc.). 



OF ALL birds wearing feathers — and that's exactly all of them, since 

 the Grecian plucked a rooster to make "Plato's man" — the Wilson Phala- 

 rope is the most exasperating. This is a harsh judgment to pass on so 

 gentle a bird, and argues a certain narrow-mindedness, — a narrow- 

 mindedness which the author hastens to admit, for it is that of the now 

 nearly extinct genus, oologist. 



Our first encounter with the Wilson Phalarope befell in a northern 

 swamp on the 1st of June, 1905. We had been wading in hip boots after 

 Western Grebe portraits, and had reached that point just off shore where the 

 boots ceased to splash, but still made a noise like bovine osculation, when 

 we came upon four Phalaropes, two males and two FEMALES. The females 

 of this species are the original militant suffragettes. But they are no 



Taken in Inyo County 



A NESTING HAUNT NEAR BISHOP 



Photo by the Author 

 II85 



