18 THE AUDUBON TBUE DE TAs 
Lady Phalarope 
Eptror’s Nore.—A letter from Roy M. Langdon of Fort Collins, 
Colorado, pleasantly reminds us that our former secretary-treasurer 
of 1918-1920 who left Illinois for Colorado a number of years ago is 
still interested in our Society and that he is as aggressive in working 
for bird conservation in Colorado as he was in Illinois. Some of our 
members may recall him as the author of our cat circular which was, 
and still is, a splendid piece of educational work. It was militant to 
a degree. The following letter addressed to one of our members 
shows Mr. Langdon in a different mood. 
HE spirit moves me to write you concerning a charming acquaint- 
ance of mine out here, Lady Phalarope. It was on the 21st of May, 
1927, that we met. Like America’s Sweetheart, Mary, she con- 
sented to sit—and stand and step and swim—for her picture. I am send- 
ing some poses. 
Our meeting came about this way. On that fine spring day, Kenneth 
Gordon and I motored abroad for pictures. We came upon a small flock 
of Northern Phalarope. All but one flew upon our approach. Thinking 
it strange this little Lady did not fly, we tossed a chunk of dirt toward 
her. Still she did not fly. Her actions told us to unlimber our cameras 
and stiffen our legs with hip boots, some good shooting was at hand. 
There was more oan one good reason for the fine hits we made. In 
addition to our skill (!), our subject was helpless and could not elude us. 
Her left wing was atitad perhaps by flying against the telephone wire 
above her. When she attempted to fly, she jumped a little out of the 
water and flopped over sideways. It was easy, therefore, to capture her 
and direct her for pictures. 
The little Lady’s efforts to escape were half-hearted. Her short legs 
and clumsy feet were not intended for fast running. She seemed aware 
of her helplessness. She made no sound or struggle even when picked 
up and held in the hand. The only indication of excitement, if such it 
was, seemed to be an intermittent, slow, and silent motion of her little 
white throat. When we had satiated our “‘lust to kill,” we placed the 
little Lady in the water with our 
blessing, hoping her wing would 
heal and that she would soon be 
swiftly coursing the skies again 
with her companions. As she 
swam away from us, paddling 
swiftly but progressing slowly, 
we were impressed with the fact 
that she depends not upon short 
legs or margined toes but almost 
solely upon swift and sturdy 

