JV OR THERN PH ALAR OPE. 
371 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Eggs, placed on the ground in a hollow scratched in the soil, with a little grass, etc.; two to four in number, rather pyr¬ 
iform in shape, ashy-yellow in color, spotted and blotched irregularly, and usually coarsely, with brown of varying shades. 
Dimensions from - 90 x P20 to ‘95 x 135. 
HABITS. 
Wilson's Phalarope, although very common in the West, is exceedingly rare on the 
Atlantic coast of the United States and I have never met with a specimen living, nor do I 
now remember hearing of an authentic instance of its recent capture, at least in New Eng¬ 
land. It does, however, occur east of the Mississippi, as it breeds in Illinois. According 
to notes, this Phalarope is quite unique among birds, as it is affirmed that the female is 
not only brighter in plumage than the male but that she does all the courting, while the 
male sits on the eggs after they are deposited. Mr. F. T. Jenks of Providence, who has 
been among these birds when they were breeding, assures me that the above mentioned 
facts are true and others have asserted the same thing. In the faee of all these witnesses, 
I shall not venture a remark but will merely tell the tale to my readers as it is told to me. 
Wilson’s Phalarope arrives from the South with other shore birds and departs with them in 
the autumn. 
PHALAROPUS HYPERBOREUS. 
Northern Phalarope. 
Phalaropus hyperboreus Temm., Mao., II; 1820, 709. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, rather slender. Size, small. Bill, slender and but slightly longer than head. Legs, not long. Lat¬ 
eral toe membranes, wide, and scalloped at each phalangeal joint, while the basal ones are large. Tail, considerably round¬ 
ed. Tongue, long, thin, and slender, narrowing toward tip which is pointed. 
Color. Adult. Above, very dark ashy-brown, darkest on head and lightest on rump, mixed with bright chestnut on 
back. A ring of chestnut-red surrounds neck and a stripe of the same color extends down sides of it. Tips of greater wing 
coverts and under portions of body, white, with the sides tinged with ashy mixed with reddish. 
Young. Lack the chestnut markings of the adult and the feathers above are sometimes edged with reddish, other¬ 
wise similar. Iris, brown, bill and feet, black, in all stages. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Readily known by the small.size, short, slender, pointed bill, rounded tail, wide, scalloped, lateral toe membranes and 
large basal ones. Distributed, as a summer resident, throughout the circumpolar Arctic Regions; wintering in the South 
Temperate Zone. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from Eastern America. Length, 7’75; stretch, 13‘75; wing, 4*55; tail, 2'25; bill, 
l'OO; tarsus, ’80. Longest specimen, 8'00; greatest extent of wing, 14'50; longest wing, 4’60; tail, 2'50; bill, PIO; tarsus, 
•85. Shortest specimen, 7*50; smallest extent of wing, 13*00; shortest wing, 4 - 50; tail, 2*00; bill, ‘90; tarsus, - 75. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Eggs , placed on the ground in a depression of the soil, on a little grass. They are from two to four in number, rather 
pyriform in shape, varying from greenish to yellowish-ash in color, spotted and blotched irregularly, thickly, and usually 
coarsely, with brown of varying shades. Dimensions from *75 x P02 to *80 x P£0. 
HABITS. 
Off the eastern and southern side of Grand Menan are spots where the tide rushing 
out of the Bay of Fundy, meets the waters of the ocean, causing a peculiar agitation on 
the surface. These are called rips by the fishermen and their presence is not only detect¬ 
ed by the whirling of the water but also by the floating sea weed and debris brought down 
