72 



On the Ornithology of Wilts [Lobipcdidw~\. 



downs at Winterslow. Another was shot at Dauntsey by the 

 Rev. A. Biederraann; and another at Kellaways Mill, by the Rev. 

 R. Ashe. Lord Nelson showed me a fine specimen in his possession 

 which was taken on the borders of the county on the Hampshire 

 side. The late Rev. John Ward announced the capture of another 

 at Great Bedwyn : and Mr. Elgar Sloper, of Devizes, speaks of 

 several as having been killed in that neighbourhood ; one which 

 came into his collection having been taken on the banks of the 

 Kennet and Avon Canal, in November, 1840. If we exchange the 

 scene from the retired inland pond to the open ocean, we shall find 

 the habits of the Phalarope very like those of the more familiar 

 Coot : they are, however, perhaps still more aquatic, and they 

 differ in having great power and swiftness of wing. In summer 

 their plumage is of a reddish chestnut, or rich brown hue, but in 

 winter of a light grey colour ; which great variation has given 

 rise to much confusion in identifying these birds as belonging to 

 but one species only. 



"Red-necked Phalarope. " (Phalaropus hyperboreus). This 

 elegant but diminutive species is far more rare in England than its 

 larger congener. The specific name hyperboreus fully declares its 

 habitat, for it ranges over all the Arctic regions of the Old and 

 New Worlds, and descends as low as the Orkneys, and the northern 

 coast of Scotland, where it is not uncommon. The plumage may 

 be generally described as lead coloured above; chest and neck 

 reddish bay, otherwise white below. I have a notice from Mr. 

 Elgar Sloper that a male bird in the breeding plumage was shot 

 by him in the brickfield at Old Park, in May, 1841, and that as 

 the pinion of one wing was the only part injured, it lived for several 

 weeks, feeding in the water on animal food, with which Mr. Sloper 

 supplied it, and swimming with great facility. 



We have now reached the end of the fourth great Order of 

 Birds, viz., the Waders, and but one more order remains to be 

 considered, the true Water-fowl, or Swimmers. 



Alfred Charles Smith. 



Yatesbury Rectory, Calne, 

 February, 1869. 



