$COItQPA CIDJS.
Phalaropus„ ,f ilijPARip. , (JAnnmusfh/
' THE ( f i f e PHALABOPE?)
Phalariopms-iobeottiisi* “ (
Phalabopus, Brisson f. —Beak rather Ipn^weak,^ straight* dmregged! and
blunt; both mamHblls gro®veft tBroughMtit tblar w ^ r i e f | I l i ; thb u ^ r.m a n -
dible slightly curved a t : Nostrils basal,' liiim lf ov)fl;'V i * ^ l f ^ t e d
margin. Legs rather short, slender,j Mrsus,c:omE?6ased_t three .toes.in front,' one
tehind; the antepjprjoes f&rnishpd ;^ t} j extengro^of % njemfcrane Merajly
forming lahes slightly serrated at jjfrftMges, the hind toe small, a f l J S l t e d
on the inner side of the tarsus. Wings long, pointed ; 'the 'first mill-f&t'&er Ihe
longest;
This pretty speeds, remarkabje^for tkepe^t .differenceIf*
| | red appearance wfen i n ^ e
* Trniga fulicaria, Linhseu-^ Ed.yia^ i.,p . 3'%-xfftSii),
5 “^ ^ w W ^ iw i n b i r n c e «f
the dilated and l o ^ meibbranes of'fhe toes to tho|e7 'n ^ th ?% S d -A S p ;j a
toot, and TT^s footj -a structuraTd^SemHance’ ^hfeh ‘ was probably a rtasSn’for
placing the PhaLagupes next to the Rajlsdu former Editions.
pared to its- delicate grey-colour in winter, and from which
latter prevailing tint, it derives its name, was formerly, con/
sidered a rare bird in this 'country, since Pennant says that
he only knew of :two instances* in which it had .occurred in
his time. It is now knownjto he of morewjommon, although
of very ^irregular occurrence; generally-' appearing in the
autumn, when on- the wayr' to r southern winter -quarters;
and-the- visitors; are, /for-the most;part,■. young' birds- of
the* year,^'ia-various's^ageS;6f;chango towards" the pure and
delicate grey c o l o u r t h e 1'pfenaage of winter. '/Some years
since,/A. B. J/ambert, Esq.; Resented foV; the , Zoological'
SooiMy a beautifuiry-marked adult bird, which was-; kill-gd-in-
Wiltshire in the month of August,-and retained at that'time
a Cgne'at '^oxtion:, of the- drije- red1-' icolours/ of the' .breeding
season, or sumiier'-fplumage.-; hyrt specimens obtained in
December, January,' and'February, then-exhibits of course,
the^perfect grey plumage-of winter.
This sjfehies .has now been obtained in so'many different
i n dbe'BHtisb -Islands, as to render -fhe particular
enumeration' of them unnecessary, butuitfmay he said- that
itIW hUt of frequents occurrence’ in* Ireland,; nor on the-wteSit
coast of Scotland.' 0n4b& eastern -side/ ofr-the latter, its iirregu-:
lafivls-its-take place in larger munUMI^ and the same- remafk
applies -to. -both the 'eastern and the western sides ofrEngland;
hut the more favouredlcounties are those-of the-iW-th-east,
south;- and, in a less sdegreej, the south-west. Mr. J. H.
G-urney; jun.,/has-published an interesting pamphlet summarizing
tfe.xi¤chs;' of, this'’' species^ during/the great
immigration .which took place-between .the 20th August and
8® October, 1866,-wheh, accordingdo his estimate, upwards
of-five hun:di-6;ds-’WereiMaughtered, and! iof jjthe'se about two
hundred and fifty^weroohta-inedxin -Sussexj| very few- touching
thecoasi. to;tho4nhr'%iof Barn-agate.--' Some were killed
far inland, although generally by -the side of lakes ox ponds'!
and S^femfon the4 .coast, the;- favouffite'- localities ftppeax fd.ibe
pool’s of, fresh ;or brackish water/sheltexed from, ithe turbulent
>sea. " Another; i-mm-igrajSon -of some importance which
ftjok' place in the .autumn of' 186-9'; was almoSt-confined" to