Phalaropus hyperborous. 
1874. 
Aug.22, 
1880. 
Sopt.15. 
1881 . 
’^ay 20. 
Maine (Lake Urnbagog ) . 
Botv/Gon tho Outlet and the arrov/'S, dovm the middle 
I of the lake, I sav/ from the stear-boat several of these 
I Phalaropes. _ Their flight v/as very like that of the 
Sandling ‘jhioh they also resemble in general shape and 
color although they \Yero appreciably smaller. They cir 
cled about over the v/-ater vsomev;hat in the manner of 
j Gulls, alighting "requently although the v/ind v/as blov/- 
' irig a gale and the '.^avos rolling high. One, passing v;i t 
in a few ya,rds of the boat, turned sharply up\ 7 ards after 
I a small moth which it chased eagerly for some distance 
; but did not succeed in catching. 
Shot a young female inb fall plumage on the bar at 
the mouth of Cambridge River; it was feeding in company 
with triree F^ed Phalaropes (see note on this species for 
for. observations on habits etc. ). 
;! Shot two adult males in full Frreediiig nlumage on 
Lake Urnbagog near the mouth of Sundy Cove about two hun— 
dred yards from shore v/'here thej'' were svrimming in very 
j; deep water. They v/ore evidently feeding for they ad¬ 
vanced over the surface in zog-sag lines and, after nro- 
gressing a f ;w rods;, took wing and flov/- back to cover 
■ the ground over a.gain. They v/ere very tame, allo /ing 
mo to paddle vathin fifteen yards of them. ’iheir mo- 
: tions Y/'ere exceedingly graceful and they ominded me of 
Gallinules. The head bobs v/-ith oaei-' stroke of the 
geet but it bobs gracefully, while the slender neck is 
oxteruled quickly on either side as the delicate bills 
|; gloe.ns the suria...e. Their activity surpasses that of 
jj any bird 'with v/hich C am acqu.aintod. Their f'light is 
!: precisely like tliat of Tringae. Irides dark hazel, 
:! bill blE^ck; tarsi and feet dark blue. In good flesh 
jj but not fat; their stomachs filled v/ith some half-diges 
'I tod and unrecognizable, soft, animal food. A northeas- 
tori/ stov/m has pre’/ailed for tu.e la,st four or five 
days . 
