WILSON’S PHALAROPE. 
63 
slender, straight and subcylindrical bill: both mandibles are fur¬ 
rowed each side nearly their whole length, and the upper somewhat 
curved at the point; the lower is hardly shorter, quite straight, 
and the point subulate. The nostrils are in the furrows, basal, 
longitudinal, linear, half closed by a membrane. Their head is 
small, completely feathered, compressed and rounded above; the 
eyes are small, the neck well proportioned, and the body roundish. 
The feet are moderately long, four-toed; the naked space on the 
tibia rather extensive ; the tarsus as long as the middle toe, mode¬ 
rate, robust, somewhat compressed, and scutellated; the toes are 
moderate and rather slender, the three anterior bordered by a fes¬ 
tooned membrane, and the outer at least is always connected at base 
to the middle one; the hind toe is short, bordered only on the inside 
with a small entire membrane, articulated rather high and inter¬ 
nally, touching the ground at tip: the nails are short, curved, and 
acute. The wings long, falciform, and acute, the first primary 
being the longest: the quills twenty-five in number. The tail is 
short, and consists of twelve feathers, with its under coverts 
extending quite to the tip. 
The female is but little different from the male, but larger and 
handsomer in full plumage. The young are very different from 
the adults, and they vary much with age. They moult twice in 
the year, their colours changing strangely, which has occasioned 
the wanton multiplication of species. Their plumage is close, 
thick, abundantly furnished with down, and impermeable to 
water. Their colours are principally brownish and reddish, 
changing in winter to gray and white, which is always to be found 
on their under parts. 
Their habits are essentially aquatic. They inhabit the sea- 
coasts, the shores of lakes and occasionally of rivers; are grega¬ 
rious, but never collect in large flocks. Probably from being so 
seldom met with, they show little dread of mankind, and allow of 
