GREY P H A L A R ( ) P E. 
PIIALAROPUS FULICARIUS. 
The fiist Grey Plialarope I met with was discovered, one stormy evening in September 18G6, swimming in a 
pool of water in a marsh adjoining the hanks of the river Lyon, in Glenlyon, in the west of Perthshire. ” This 
part of the country is nearly fifty miles from the sea-coast, so the poor little bird must have been driven a 
ong distance inland by the gale, which would account for its weakened condition, as it paid little or no attention 
when approached within a yard or two. I was anxious to procure the stranger as a specimen, and as the 
ay ight had rapidly faded into darkness, it was by no means an easy matter to get a chance of securino- it • 
1 le assistance of a keeper, however, I soon met with success. The man remained near the pool, while 1 
took up a position about twenty-five yards off, and he then pointed out to the best of his abilitv where 
the bird was resting and withdrew a few yards. Aiming at the spot as well as I could judge, both barrels 
of the gun were discharged, and the unfortunate wanderer was found dead, floating on the surface of the water 
when we reached the pool. ’ 
On tlio 23rd of September, 1870, while fishing for silver whiting about a mile from the shore off Bri<rhton 
durmg a strong breeze from the east, I caught sight of a lightly marked Grey Phalarope swimming and drlftinc; 
over the waves at a great pace with the tide. The breaking of the surf now and then forced the bird to rise 
and hover on wmg for a moment and alight again on the surface of the water. Drawing in the line that held 
our small boat, we went on board, and soon came up with and secured the little bird, which proved to be a 
juvenile in plumage of the first autumn. 
On a stormy morning after a very rough night during the first week in October 1870, I happened to he 
over at Shoreham soon aftCT daybreak, and met with a great number of Phalaropes along the shore between the 
^orfolk bridge and Lancing. Several were swimming in the oyster-ponds and running about in the grass 
fields inside the shingle-banks ; others paddled about in any small puddles they could find, w here the rain- 
water had collected in the fields and marshes within half a mile of the shore. There w-ere also hundreds passing 
along the coast, flying towards the west, alighting now and then among the breakers, when still unrufiled water 
could be met with, and resting for a few moments to recruit their strength. Many were so fatigued by expo- 
sure to the long-continued gale, that they were utterly unable to proceed on their journey; several I picked up 
were in the last gasp, and about halt a dozen were dead and cold. This large flight, performing their annual 
migration, must have been passing the south coast for a fortnight at least ; on fine days with a li<»ht wind few 
would be seen ; should the breeze freshen, and a gale of wind set in, they would again put in an appearance, 
exhibiting signs of distress from the effects of the severity of the weather. 
The two most handsome specimens I secured at this time were discovered flitting over and ali-hting 
occasionally among the breakers rolling on to the beach at Brighton, just to the west of the new pier, on the 
16th of October, 1870. Several fishermen and hoys were flinging stones at them, hut the fearless birds took 
not the slightest notice, unless the spray of the water was driven over them, when they only fluttered a yard or 
