BROWN PHALAROPE. 93 
found in the interior, about the lakes, ponds, and streams of 
fresh water, where they delight to linger, swimming near the 
margin in search of seeds and insects. ‘They are nowhere 
numerous, are commonly seen in pairs, and are so extremely 
tame and unsuspicious, that one may approach to within a few 
feet of them. 
The genus Lobipes of the Baron Cuvier is founded upon 
this species ; and it must be confessed that its characters are 
sufficiently distinct from those of the bird which follows to 
authorise such a separation; but unless some new species 
should be discovered, we see no impropriety in associating the 
two birds already known, taking care, however, to preserve a 
consistency in the generic characters, which Temminck, in his 
“Manuel,” has not sufficiently observed. 
In the Appendix to Montagu’s “Supplement to the Orni- 
thological Dictionary,’ we find the following remarks on this 
species, there named /wlicaria :—“ We have before mentioned 
that this bird had been observed in the Orkneys in consider- 
able abundance in the summer, and that no doubts were enter- 
tained of its breeding there, although the nest had not been 
found. ‘To Mr Bullock, therefore, we are indebted for the far- 
ther elucidation of the natural history of this elegant little bird. 
In a letter to the author, this gentleman says, ‘I found the red 
phalarope common in the marshes of Sanda and Westra, in 
the breeding season, but which it leaves in the autumn. This 
bird is so extremely tame, that I killed nine without moving 
ont of the same spot, being not in the least alarmed at the 
report of a gun. It lays four eggs, of the shape of that of a 
snipe, but much less, of an olive colour, blotched with dusky. 
It swims with the greatest ease, and when on the water, looks 
like a beautiful miniature of a duck, carrying its head close to 
the back, in the manner of a teal.’ Mr Bullock further ob- 
serves, ‘ That the plumage of the female is much lighter, and 
has less of the rufous than the other sex.’ ” * 
* All observations referring to European birds in this description 
cannot apply. ZL. Wilsonir is yet known only as American. The last 
may be referred with propriety, however, to Lobipes hyperboreus.—ED. 
