WILSON’S PHALAROPE. 465. 
and is not exceeded in numbers by even the ever-present Spotted Sand-piper. As is the 
case with several other species of birds, Lake Michigan appears to form a limit to its 
common occurrence in the eastern portion of its range. On the west it extends to the 
Rocky Mountains, and between these limits it has been recorded during the breeding- 
season from the Saskatchewan to the Arkansas (Coues) and to the city of Mexico 
(Nuttall). It is more closely confined to its favorite haunts than most water-birds, and 
this may, in a measure, account for the little hitherto known regarding its habits. Dur- 
ing the first two weeks of May, the exact date varying with the season, this beautifal 
bird first makes its appearance in Northeastern Illinois. Its arrival is heralded by a few 
females, which arrive first, and are found singly about the marshes. At this time the 
females have a peculiar harsh note, which I have heard but a few times, and only from 
solitary individuals before the arrival of the main body. 
A few days later small flocks, embracing both sexes, may be found along the borders 
of grassy pools, or lying at midday on the sunny side of some warm knoll in the marsh. 
Asthe breeding-seascn approaches they become more restless, flying from place to place, 
and finally separate into small parties of two or three pairs. About the middle of May 
their love-making commences, and is at first indicated by the increasing solicitude they 
show for each othe1’s welfare. The appearance of a person in their vicinity at this time 
is the signal for all the birds near to come circling about, though generally not within 
easy gunshot. By a careful approach one may now and then find a small party swim- 
ming about in some secluded pool. The charming grace of movement exhibited at such 
times, combined with their tasteful elegance of attire, form one of the most pleasing 
sights one could witness, as they swim buoyantly from side to side of the pool, grace- 
fally nodding their heads; now pausing an instant to arrange a feather, or to daintily 
gather some fragment of food, and now floating idly about, wafted by the slight breeze 
which at intervals ripples the surface of the water. A more common, but scarcely less 
pleasing sight is presented when, unconscious of observation, they walk sedately along 
the border of the water, never departing from their usualeasy grace of movement, 
Their food is generaily found in such places, where the receding water furnishes a 
bountiful supply. The only demonstrations I have observed during the pairing-time 
consist of a kind of solemn bowing of the head and bedy ; but sometimes, with the head 
lowered and thrust forward, they will run back and forth in front of the object of their 
regard ; or again a pair may often be seen to salute each other by alternately bowing or 
lowering their heads; but their courtship is characterized by a lack of the rivalry and 
vehemence usually exhibited by birds. A male is often accompanied by two females at 
first, but as soon as his choice is made the rejected bird joins her fortunes with some 
more impressible swain. 
The nesting-site is usually in some thin tuft of grass on a level spot, but oftenin an 
open place concealed by only a few straggling blades of small carices, The malescratches 
a shallow depression in the soft earth, which is usually lined with a thin layer of frag- 
ments of old grass blades, upon which the eggs, numbering from three to four, are de- 
posited about the last of May or firstof June. Owing to the low situations in which the 
nests are placed, the frst set of eggs is often destroyed by a heavy fall of rain, causing 
the water to rise so as to submerge the nest. In this case the second set, numbering 
two or three, are often deposited in a depression scratched in the ground, as at first, but 
with no sign of any lining. Accidents of this kind cause the second set of eggs to be 
sometimes deposited as late as the last of June. 
‘The young usually appear about the third week of J une, and are able to fly in about 
three weeks, Generally a number of pairs nest upon the same marsh, In some in- 
30 
