THE GREY PHALAROPE. 
337 
In the month of November 1830, one frequented the dam at 
BaUydugan mills, county of Down, for about a week, when it was 
shot, after having, by the elegance of its motions, afforded high 
gratification to aU who saw it.* The individuals hitherto noticed 
(with one exception) seem to have been solitary wanderers. 
In the autumn of 1831, however, there was quite a migration 
of phalaropes to Ireland. Late in the month of October, I 
then saw in the shop of a bird-preserverf in Belfast, at the same 
time six fresh specimens, and in the possession of an amateur 
taxidermist a seventh. J These were shot at four different localities 
remote from each other, in the county of Down. One was 
obtained inland, near Eathfriland, on the 26th of October, upon 
which day three were killed on the coast at Dundrum. At Do- 
naghadee, on the 29th, one, and near Portaferry, about the same 
time, two, were shot. Of those killed at Dundrum it is remarked 
in a note now before me, made by the late Mr. John Montgomery : 
The first one I saw close by the edge of the river, between the 
outer and inner bay, and knew to be a stranger by its graceful 
movements ; it dipped its head often and seemed to be feeding ; 
was very tame and showed no fear when we came within twenty 
yards. About ten minutes afterwards we came within sight 
of a pair of these birds. While rowing in-shore to get near 
them, I was amused with their liveliness in sipping the water 
and playing round each other in a circling and graceful man- 
ner. Their plumage indicated a change between the grey 
and the white.'’^|| On the 25th of October one was shot at 
Conswater, near Belfast, and not far distant, on the county Down 
side of the bay, two more (which came under my inspection) 
* Mr. Wm. Sinclaire. 
t On skinning them he particularly remarked the closeness of the feathers on the 
breast, and that those next the body were black. 
t These specimens had the forehead white ; other parts of the head dark brown, 
of which colour the scapulars and quill feathers also were ; wings rather below the 
carpal joint, bluish; entire back, tine bluish -grey ; all the under parts pure white. 
— I)r. J. D. Marshall. 
II Two more phalaropes were killed at Dundrum a few years afterwards, 
VOL. II. Z 
