Genus PHALAROPUS, Briss.

Gen. Cuar. Beak strai i
raight, depressed at its base ; both mandibles furrowed as far as the point

the tip of the uppe i
Pp pper one obtuse, and bending over the under, which is pointed. Nostrzls

basal, lateral, oval, encir
n i . Fe
i , : circled by a membrane. eet moderate, slender. Tarsz compressed

Toes, thre
A e before and one behind, those in front united as far as the first jomt by a
mem ra . ° e . ° . e. . ;
ne which is continued to their extremities in indented festoons: the hind toe
having only th di
aving y the rudiments of a r ; ng “t
membrane. Wings lengthened ; the first quill-feather

longest.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE.

Phalaropus hyperboreus, Lath.
Le Phalarope hyperboré.

THE two eae of Ehalanopes which are recognised as natives of Europe, have in their different stages of
plumage received ae Sy and the present species, from its more lengthened and attenuated bill, has
pee Separated by M. Cumer, and advanced to rank as a genus, which he has designated Lodipes. With the
views of this great naturabst we do not in the present instance concur ; being unwilling that birds agreeing so
closely as these in eels, HEMT, and food, should be separated : though it must at the same fine be pa
fessed Het as the modification the bird here figured exhibits in the structure of the beak, points out a degree
of affinity to the genus Zo¢anus, so on the contrary the other species evinces an approach to the Te
T. hypoleucos for example ; a bird which although it does not swim, except from necessity, 1s certainly endowed
with that power beyond its congeners. Retaining, however, the two European species under one and the
same genus, we may proceed to observe, that the Red-necked Phalarope is the least of the two, and that
the elegance of its form, together with the grace and ease of its actions on the water, cannot but excite the
admiration of every lover of Nature. It more particularly inhabits the northern portion of the globe, being
found both in Europe and America, frequenting the shores of the sea and large sheets of water whether fresh
or salt, but more especially the latter. In the British dominions,—Scotland, and its northern and western Isles,
are the most frequent places of resort, where it also breeds ; the specimens from which our figures were taken
having been collected among the Shetland Islands, in their mature and breeding plumage during the season
of 1832, by Mr. Dunn of Hull, who informs us that they were by no means uncommon, and that their familiar
and unsuspecting habits rendered them easy of acquisition. Their nests, which have been found among the
lochs of Sanda, as described by Mr. Salmon, were placed in small tufts of grass growing close to the edge
lines in length, and ten lines anda half in breadth, olive-brown

of the water ; the eggs four, one inch two
M. Temminck states that in Germany and Holland this bird is

spotted and specked with brownish black.
of rare occurrence.

As we might expect from the lengthened for
y considerable ; nor is it less endowed with facilities for swimming, not only upon
here it is sometimes seen, but also upon the rougher billows of the
uite secure. On land it does not display that lightness and activity
in its lobed feet, however, it possesses an advantage over that
h covers the sides of creeks and estuaries, among

m of the wings, the power of flight which the Red-necked

Phalarope possesses is ver
the smooth surface of lakes and ponds, w
ocean far from shore, where it finds itself q
which characterize the Zringa in general ;
tribe in being able to walk on the soft and oozy mud whic
which it finds its principal food, consisting of insects, worms, and minute mollusca.

The changes of plumage which this bird undergoes are but little understood ; we know, however, that the
young differ materially from the adult birds, having a lighter colouring of plumage, wanting the red on the
and all their feathers bemg inargined with greyish white. M. Temminck, as well as other
1g the sexual differences which characterize the Phalaropes, the
: in considering the largest and richest-coloured birds to be
to prevail with most of those birds that

are further remarkable for laying very

sides of the neck,
naturalists, has fallen mto an error respectir
Sandpipers and Plovers, the Ruff excepted,—viz.
males, whereas the contrary is in reality the case.
produce but one brood of young during the summer
large eggs in proportion to the size of the bird.

We take our description from adult specimens now before us.

neck, the breast and flank, are of a dark ash colour ; throat, belly
throat intervenes a broad patch of beautiful chestnut-red ; the remainder of the upper plumage of a brownish

black, the feathers having a rufous margin 5 secondaries tipped with white, which forms a band across the
wings ; bill black ; irides brown ; feet olive-brown. Length about six inches. ee
We have figured both sexes in their summer plumage ; the female will be readily distinguished by her more

brilliant colour and larger size.

This law appears
, and the females

The whole of the head, the back of the
and vent, white ; between the breast and