Order  VII.  GRALLAC.  Family  III.  Scolopacidje. 
The  sixth  Subfamily, 
PHALAROPODIISME,  or  Phalaropes, 
have  the  Bill  as  long  as,  or  longer  than,  the  head,  more  or  less  slender  and  straight ;  the  culmen  straight, 
except  at  the  tip,  which  is  curved ;  the  sides  of  the  upper  mandible  grooved  for  nearly  its  whole  length ; 
the  Nostrils  placed  in  the  lateral  groove,  with  the  opening  linear :  the  Wings  long  and  pointed :  the 
Tail  short  and  rounded :  the  Tarsi  short,  and  more  or  less  robust :  the  Toes  moderate,  united  at  the 
base,  and  more  or  less  lobed  on  the  sides  to  the  tips ;  the  hind  toe  short,  elevated,  and  margined  slightly 
by  a  narrow  membrane. 
Phalaropus  Briss.* 
Bill  as  long  as,  or  longer  than,  the  head,  more  or  less  slender,  but  sometimes  enlarged  and  depressed 
towards  the  tip,  which  is  curved  and  acute  ;  the  sides  grooved  for  nearly  its  whole  length,  in  which 
groove  the  nostrils  are  placed,  with  the  opening  basal,  linear,  and  partly  closed  by  a  membrane.  Wings 
long  and  pointed,  with  the  first  and  second  quills  equal  and  longest.  Tail  more  or  less  short  and 
rounded.  Tarsi  as  long  as,  or  longer  than,  the  middle  toe,  rather  robust  and  compressed.  Toes  long  ;  the 
lateral  toes  united  to  the  middle  by  a  membrane  that  runs  along  the  margin  of  each  toe,  which  is  more 
or  less  lobed  ;  the  hind  toe  moderate,  elevated,  and  slightly  margined  by  a  membrane  ;  the  claws  short 
and  acute. 
The  species  are  inhabitants  of  the  northern  regions,  but  migrating  to  the  more  temperate  climes  during  severe 
winters.  They  are  usually  observed  in  pairs,  or  in  small  parties,  swimming  about  on  the  sea,  or  on  lakes,  ponds,  and 
streams  of  fresh  water,  generally  near  the  margins,  moving  quickly  in  search  of  floating  seeds,  aquatic  insects,  and  small 
crustaceous  animals,  on  which  they  subsist.  They  swim  with  the  greatest  facility  and  swiftness,  and  their  flight  is  rapid 
and  elevated  in  the  air.    The  female  deposits  four  eggs  among  a  tuft  of  herbage  in  the  marshes. 
1.  P.  fulicarius  (Linn.)  Cuv.  Edwards's  Birds,  pi.  14:2. —  Pha- 
laropus rufus  Bechst. ;  Ph.  platyrhynchos  Temm. ;  Ph.  rufescens 
Briss.  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  337. ;  Tringa  lobata  Lepechin  ;  Tr. 
glacialis  Gmel.  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  255.,  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pi. 
73.  f.  4.,  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  270.,  Pall.  Zoogr.  ii.  p.  205.  t.  63. 
2.  P.  hyperboreus  (Linn.)  Cuv.  PI.  enl.  766.,  Edwards's  Birds, 
pi.  143.  —  Phalaropus  cinereus  Briss.  ;  Ph.  anguslirostris  Naum.  ; 
Ph.  ruficollis  Pall.  Zoogr.  ii.  p.  203.  t.  62. ;  Ph.  cinerascens  Pall. ; 
Tringa  fusca  Gmel.  Edwards's  Birds,  pi.  46.  ;   Tr.  lobata  Linn. 
Edwards's  Birds,  pi.  308.,  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  336.,  Audub.  B.  of 
Amer.  pi.  254.;  Type  of  Lobipes  Cuv.  (1817). 
3.  P.  Wilsonii  Sab.  Faun.  Bor.  Amer.  Birds,  pi.  6g.  —  Phala- 
ropus lobatus  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pi.  73.  f.  3.  ;  Lobipes  incanus 
Jard.  3;  Selby,  Illustr.  of  Orn.  pi.  16.  ;  Ph.  frenatus  Vieill.  Gal. 
des  Ois.  t.  271.  ;  Ph.  fimbriates  Temm.  PI.  col.  270. ;  Ph.  steno- 
dactylus  Wagl.  Isis  (1831),  p.  525.  ?  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  254.  ; 
Type  of  Holopodius  Pr.  Bonap.  (1828). 
*  Established  by  Brisson  in  1760  (Ornithologie,  vi.  p.  12.).  Crymophilus  of  Vieillot  ( 1 8 1 6)  is  coequal.  It  embraces  Lobipes  of  Cuvier 
(1817),  Holopodius  of  the  Prince  of  Canino  (1828),  and  Amblyrbynchus  of  Mr.  Nuttall  (1834). 
June,  1848. 
