BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND NOT FIGURED BY BULLER. 
which in vast multitudes live in the fresh-water ponds. In a few stomachs I 
also found fine, indeterminable remnants of plants (Algae?). 
“ Behaviour . Phalaropes are active, lively birds in all their movements 
and the}?- seem to be constantly on the move. They are all rapid fliers and this 
species is decidedly the swiftest on the wing of all three. As the restless flocks 
move about over the water, their aerial evolutions are well worth watching. 
Lucien M. Turner, in his Labrador notes, writes that ho lias seen them ‘ ascend 
to a great height in increasing circles, darting in and out among each other 
and making a peculiar twitter as they ascend. When some suitable locality 
is discerned, these birds descend almost perpendicularly and drop on the water 
as softly as a feather.’ They are so much like Sandpipers in appearance and 
in maimer of flight that one is always surprised to see them alight on the water. 
* 4 Perhaps even more surprising than then - peculiar marital relations are 
their aquatic habits. Their semi-palmated and lobed toes are well adapted for 
swimming and the thick, compact plumage of their under-parts protects them 
and buoys them up on the water. They float as lightly as corks, or as freshly 
fallen autumn leaves on a woodland pool, swimming swiftly and whirling 
rapidly, undisturbed by rushing currents or by foaming breakers. 
44 On land then - movements are exceedingly rapid and graceful, though 
somewhat erratic ; they run about excitedly with all the restless activity 
of Sandpipers, nodding their heads with a pretty, dove-like motion. At such 
times they are remarkably tame, unsuspicious and gentle birds ; as they do not 
habitually come in contact with human beings, they are unafraid. 
44 Field Marks. In its nuptial plumage the Red Plialarope can be easily 
recognised by its brilliant colours ; the male is smaller, his colours are duller, 
and his breast is mixed with white. In its winter plumage, in which w'e usually 
see it, it is likely to be confused with the Northern Plialarope or the Sanderling. 
It is larger than the former, more stockily built, and has a shorter, thicker 
bill, which is yellowish at the base. From the Sanderling it can be distinguished 
by the grey markings on the head and neck, winch are mainly white in winter 
Sanderlings, by the darker grey of the back and by the yellow' at the base of 
the bill. Phalaropes are usually tame enough to allow close study of these details. 
“Fall. The Red Phalaropes are the last of the waders to leave their Arctic 
breeding-grounds, lingering until the lakes and shores are closed with ice, 
often well into October. These loiterers are all yomig birds ; the adults leave 
early and are sometimes seen off the coasts of the United States in July. 
“Winter. Our laiowiedge of the winter homo of our American birds of this 
species is rather meagre. They have been traced as far south as the Falkland 
Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and Juan Fernandez in the Pacific. Probably 
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