allen’s naturalist’s library. 
196 
like the noise made by lightly tapping together small bars of 
steel. When the birds were disturbed, these notes were 
repeated oftener and became harder and louder. 
“A little later in the day, as their hunger beeame satisfied, 
they began to unite into parties, until fifteen or twenty birds 
would rise and pursue an erratic course over the flat. As 
they passed swiftly along, stray individuals and pairs might be 
seen to spring up and join the flock. Other flocks would 
rise and the smaller coalesce with the larger until from two 
hundred to three or even four hundred birds were gathered 
in a single flock. As the size of the flock increased, its move- 
ments became more and more irregular. At one moment 
they would glide straight along the ground, then change to a way- 
ward flight, back and forth, twisting about with such rapidity 
that it was difficult to follow them with the eye. Suddenly 
their course would change, and the compact flock, as if animated 
by a single impulse, would rise high over head, and after a series 
of graceful and swift evolutions, come sweeping down with a 
loud, rushing sound to resume their playful course near the 
ground. During all their motions the entire flock moved in 
such unison that the alternate flashing of the under-side of their 
win-JS and the dark colour of their back, like the play of light 
and° shade, made a beautiful spectacle. When wearied of their 
sport the flock disbanded and the birds again resumed their 
When the Red Phalarope arrives in spring, its preference 
is for the flat wet lands bordering the coast and rivers, where 
it remains to breed. It is not usually found on the sea 
at this season, but on June 10, 1878, a number were seen 
swimming along the floating ice in the Bay of St. Michael’s. 
Very early in June the females have each paid their court and 
won a shy and gentle male to share their coming cares.” 
Uest. — The nest, according to Mr. Nelson, consists of a 
slight depression, generally on the damp flats with very rarely 
any lining. One was found by him on the 8th of June within 
six feet of a small brackish pool, the eggs being deposited upon 
a nest of dried leaves under a dwarf willow. 
j-ggg—Four in number and very much pointed. The ground- 
colour is very dark, of a deep clay-colour, verging to chocolate- 
