PHALAROPID^. 
34£ 
Dr. W. R. Scott, of St. Leonardos, Exeter, informs us, in an 
interesting communication to the ^ Zoologist,^ that grey phala- 
ropes appeared there in October 1846 in greater numbers than 
ever before known.^' 
This species has occasionally been met with about Waterford. t 
The preceding details show the occurrence of the phalarope in 
Ireland at the three seasons of autumn, winter, and spring — its 
alike resorting to fresh water and the sea; — and its frequent 
appearance at the same time in Ireland, as that in which it was 
observed commonly in England. Its visits are of about equal 
frequency to each of those countries ; Scotland would seem to be 
more rarely visited, but data for the decision of such matters are 
often wanting with respect to that country. A few killed in 
winter on the Erith of Forth and the Solway, have come under 
the notice of Sir Wm. Jardine. The beauty of the bird, together 
with its liveliness and grace, attracted the highest admiration of 
all who had the opportunity of seeing it in Ireland. 
I do not find the grey phalarope noticed in the histories of 
British birds, as breeding in any part of the British Islands ; but 
in the more recently published ^ Historia ISlaturalis Orcadensis,^ 
which appeared in 1848, it is stated to be found in Sanday and 
some other islands, in most of which it breeds. Yery high 
northern latitudes, as Iceland, Greenland, the North Georgian 
and Melville Island s,^^ || are generally resorted to by this species 
as breeding-haunts. 
Mr. W. Galbraith, a bird-preserver, who had been resident for 
some time in Belfast, and was well acquainted with different 
* No. for Marcli 1849 (vol. vii. p. 2384). The year is printed 1845 in the jour- 
nal, hut considering from the number of these birds which appeared in Ireland in 
1846, that this was most probably the year, I wrote to Dr. Scott on the subject, 
and was politely informed that such was the case ; 1845 being a misprint or error in 
transcribing the note. 
t Dr. R. J. Burkitt. 
t Dec. 1849. I saw in the collection of Mr. J. Watters, jun., Dublin, three 
phalaropes, one of which was shot in the bay there on the 13th of September, 1847. 
The others were sent in a recent state to a bird-preserver in that city on the 28th of 
February and 20th of June, 1849, but whence, I could not learn. The last specimen 
is the only one I have known to be procured in the summer. 
II Yarrell. 
