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Lobipes lobatus (Linnaeus). Northern Phalarope 
Phalaropes were seen mainly off the Asiatic coast, and a small number 
along the British Columbia coast, but all on the return voyage. They 
first appeared July 13 off Shimishir island in the Kurils. On July 15, 30 
miles from Petropavlovsk, four small flocks amounting to about one 
hundred birds were encountered. On July 19 as many more were in the 
same waters south of Petropavlovsk. On August 6, a single bird was seen 
bobbing on the swell far north of Kyska island. No more were seen until 
the Thiepval was on the inside passages south of Prince Rupert, B.C., 
where on August 18 three were seen, and next day near Hardy bay, Van- 
couver island, sixty were bobbing about among the flotsam of a long and 
expansive eddy. 
In all cases these birds were, apparently, Northern Phalaropes — a bird 
well known through association in other fields — and if the Red Phalarope 
were present at all it was not distinguished. The writer has not seen the 
latter bird in life. On more than one occasion the birds above were noted 
close to the ship’s rail, both on the Asiatic and American coast, and the 
familiar chipping notes of the Northern were heard distinctly. Our pilot, 
Captain A. Freeman of Vancouver, who seemed quite familiar with the 
phalarope under the name of “Gale bird,” told of seeing them every season 
in vast numbers at sea off the west coast of Vancouver island. 
Arquatella maritima couesi Ridgway. Aleutian Sandpiper 
This was really the only shore-bird met in any number during the 
voyage. At Bellabella, March 3, at Prince Rupert, March 6, and Wrangell, 
March 8, large flocks of sandpipers, on the rocks, were too far away for good 
observation and it was only when Atka island was reached, April 1, that 
the bird could be closely observed. It was met again at Adak island, 
April 13, at Attu island, April 20, and Bering island, April 25. On the 
return trip it was seen with certainty only at Unalaska. In no case were 
the birds in large numbers; but a dozen or two usually could be found 
about the rocks at any landing in the Aleutians. They were very tame. 
They could stand upon the brown rocks and escape the eye with much the 
same magic with which a Wilson’s Snipe can hide upon the earth. Sometimes 
they remained quietly hidden until almost stepped upon. On one occasion 
one was seen to swim nimbly from one rock to another rather than fly. 
Of the five specimens taken at Atka island, April 1, there was “very 
little red as yet apparent in the backs, and winter plumage was invariably 
in evidence. Bills were brownish green, yellowish at base; toes and tarsus 
greenish yellow. The bill is rather heavy at the base and is curved slightly 
downward. The whole bird is slightly remindful of a Pectoral Sandpiper.” 
On April 13, in the grassy hummocks above the lagoon at Kuluk bay, 
Adak island, two sandpipers were routed from a high hilltop. Owing to a 
mild blizzard observation was difficult, and, therefore, one of the birds 
was shot. It proved to be merely an Aleutian Sandpiper and such a strange 
habitat surely suggested that already the birds, in spite of their winter 
dress, were looking for nesting-sites. 
