PHALAROPE, 129 



GRALLATORES. LOBIPEDIDM. 



PLATE CCXI 



PHALAROPE. 



PHALAROPUS L0BATUS. 



The Phalarope, better known in Britain by the appellation 

 of the Grey Phalarope, is occasionally met with in this 

 country. We ourselves killed one in December 1840, 

 near Shepperton Lock on the Thames, just before a heavy 

 snowstorm, in perfect grey or winter plumage, and another 

 on the 2nd of December 1841, in intermediate plumage. 

 This latter bird was swimming on the Thames, where it 

 had been seen for two days. The chestnut feathers of 

 the summer plumage were still remaining on the throat of 

 this specimen, some feathers of the same colour were still 

 left in the nape of the neck, and the feathers on the upper 

 part of the back, rump, and tertials, were in a perfect state 

 of summer plumage ; its weight, one ounce and a quarter. 



The geographical distribution of the Phalarope is ex- 

 tended over Europe, Asia, and America, but it is least nume- 

 rous in Europe ; its preference for the highest northern 

 latitudes is well-known. In Greenland it is of very fre- 

 quent occurrence ; the severe climates of North America, 

 the north of Asia, and the northern parts of Siberia seem 

 to suit its habits exceedingly well, as it is found there to be 

 at home and plentiful. During the most inclement season, 

 it comes southward as far as the Caspian Sea, and the north 



VOL. V. M 



