64 
WILSON’S PHALAROPE. 
the nearest approach, and not being alarmed at the report of 
a gun, it is easy to kill several without moving from one spot. 
Their food consists of aquatic insects and other small animals 
that are found in the water. They are strictly monogamous, and 
are generally seen in pairs, carrying fidelity to an extreme : 
delighting in their peculiar element, they even copulate on the sea, 
and reluctantly leave it to build their nest on shore, among 
grasses: they lay from four to six eggs, which both sexes incubate, 
the male being even more strongly marked on the belly by the 
naked places which this causes : they share between them all the 
parental duties, and the young leave the nest, run about and swim 
as soon as they are hatched. The Phalaropes are hardly ever 
seen on dry ground, where, however, they walk and run swiftly, 
without the embarrassment of some other birds of less aquatic 
propensities. Though certainly the smallest of swimmers, they 
perform this operation with great dexterity, resisting the heaviest 
waves, or rising over their top, but are never known to dive : they 
notwithstanding swim with perfect ease, when they have all the 
appearance of a miniature Duck, with their head carried close to 
their back. While swimming they dip their bill often in the 
water, frequently turning round, with much elegance in all their 
motions. Their flight is rapid. Their flesh is oily and unpalatable. 
The abode of these diminutive swimmers is the arctic and 
polar regions, to which their thick coat of feathers is well adapted. 
Hence they migrate in autumn to the temperate regions of both 
continents, where they are also seen in spring. They are essen¬ 
tially arctic birds, and breed in the most northern parts of the 
world, and although they retire more to the south in winter, yet 
their visits to our temperate climates are rare and casual. From 
such a combination of traits as are above related it will be 
evident that though much restricted in the number of species the 
Phalaropes are entitled to a conspicuous rank in classification. 
