The Northern Phalarope 
Of the countless myriads of dainty voyageurs which do succeed in 
reaching the high north, there is no better account given than the classical 
report of E. W. Nelson : 
“The female of this bird, as is the case with the two allied species, is 
much more richly colored than the male and possesses all the rights 
demanded by the most radical reformers. 
“As the season comes on when the flames of love mount high, the dull- 
colored male moves about the pool, apparently heedless of the surrounding 
fair ones. Such stoical indifference appears too much for the feelings of 
some of the fair ones to bear. A female coyly glides close to him and bows 
her head in pretty submissiveness, but he turns away, pecks at a bit of 
food, and moves off. She follows, and he quickens his speed, but in vain; 
he is her choice, and she proudly arches her neck, and in mazy circles 
passes and repasses before the harassed bachelor. He turns his breast first 
to one side and then to the other, as though to escape, but there is his 
gentle wooer ever pressing her suit before him. Frequently he takes flight 
to another part of the pool, all to no purpose. If with affected indiffer¬ 
ence he tries to feed, she swims along side by side, almost touching him, 
and at intervals rises on wing above him, and, poised a foot or two over 
his back, makes a half a dozen sharp wing strokes, producing a series of 
sharp whistling noises, in rapid succession.” 
Taken in Santa Barbara Photo by the Author 
A BAND OF DRESSPARADOES 
