Mar., 1918 



A RETURN TO THE DAKOTA LAKE REGION 



65 



head. But at last, getting a hint of the reddish brown neck stripe, I knew my 

 lovely birds for the Wilson Phalarope, and recalled with a thrill that they were 

 said to nest in prairie sloughs. The Wilson Phalarope ! Years before, my first 

 — shall I ever forget it ? — was seen on a flood pond in Texas on its northward 

 migration, its slender neck arched, its plump body riding the water with easy 

 grace; dainty, exquisite bird with touches of color adding richness and ele- 

 gance to its beautiful form. 



Before reaching the Sweetwaters, I had seen a small flock on Devil 's Lake, 

 charming little creatures, rapidly turning and twisting as they picked up tiny 

 insects from the surface of the water. And now to find the lovely birds with a 

 glamour all their own, living in my very dooryard ! My cup seemed full in- 

 deed. The slough seemed a place of rare good luck and mystery. Where had 

 the beautiful visitors hidden their nest? 



Fig. 5. 



The result of a successful hunt — a Wilsox Phalarope ox its xest. 



Photo by Robert B. Rockwell. 



When they stopped following me for a few moments, one of them flew 

 away out across the slough and I saw it go down. Marking the spot by a dis- 

 tant fence post, I started to wade to it, but as I waded I came to one of the hay- 

 stack islands from which a party of Blue-winged Teal and some larger ducks 

 rose, and on which scattered feathers spoke of a preening ground. The Phala- 

 ropes discovering me here began following me around and one finally flew 

 down to another haystack island where, although it tried to crouch to make 

 itself inconspicuous, I had a moment's good look at it. AVhen standing with 

 wings folded it seemed much smaller than with wings extended in flight. Ex- 

 quisite, slender-throated little beauty ! How I feasted my eyes on it 



In flying back and forth the White-wings did not follow me closely as did 

 the Redwings, but crying in a hoarse monotone of one or two notes they swept 

 from one end of the long slough to the other including me in their beat and 



