206 
WADING BIRDS. 
in the north and east of Europe, in abundance in Siberia, 
upon the banks of lakes and rivers, and it extends its vernal 
migrations to the borilers of the Caspian. These birds abound 
in the hyperboreal regions of America, breeding on the North 
Georgian Islands and on the remote and wintry coasts of Mel- 
ville Peninsula. The late enterprising and scientific northern 
navigators, on the loth of June, in the latitude of 68 degrees, 
saw a company of these daring little voyagers out at sea, four 
miles from land, swimming at their ease amidst mountains of 
ice. They are seen also by mariners between Asia and Amer- 
ica. According to Mr. Eullock, Red Phalaropes are found 
common in the marshes of Sunda and Westra, the most north- 
erly of the Orkney Isles, where they pass the breeding-season, 
and are there so tame, and so little alarmed by the destructive 
arts of man, as to suffer the report of a gun without fear, so 
that Mr. Bullock killed as many as nine of them without mov- 
ing from the spot where he made the first discharge. When 
swimming in pools, this bird is seen continually dipping its 
bill into the water, as if feeding on some minute insects, and 
while thus engaged it will often allow of a very near approach. 
When disturbed these birds fly out a short distance only, like 
the Dunlins. Sometimes, though rarely, they are seen to 
approach the shore or the land in quest of food ; but their 
proper element is the water, and more particularly that of the 
sea or saline pools. 
The Flat-Billed Phalarope breeds around Hudson Bay in 
the month of June, soon after its arrival from its tropical 
winter quarters ; for this purpose, it selects some dry and 
grassy spot, wherein it lays about four eggs of an oil-green 
color, crowded with irregular spots of dark umber-brown, which 
become confluent towards the obtuse end. The young take to 
wing in July or early in August, and they leave the inclement 
shores of their nativity in the month of September. At this 
period, as well as in the spring, a few stragglers visit the United 
States, where individuals have been occasionally shot in the 
vicinity of Philadelphia and Boston. These and other species 
are also seen in the autumn about Vera Cruz, where they are 
