PHALAROPE, Phalaropus, a gents of birds of the family lobipedicke (q.v.); having a rather long, slender, weak, straight bill, resembling that of the sandpipers, which, indeed, they otherwise much resemble, although differing in their aquatic habits; the greater part of their time being passed in swimming on the sea, where they seek mollusks and other small marine animals for their food. The GRAY PHALAROPE (P. lobatus), although formerly so rare a bird in Britain that Pennant says he only knew of two instances of its occurrence in his time, is now not unfrequently seen- in its autumn migration from its northern abode to its southern winter-quarters. It breeds in the arctic regions both of the old and new world, migrating southward in both on the approach of winter. Its entire length is rather, more than 8 inches. The tail is short. It is a beautiful bird, and remarkable for the great difference of its summer and winter plumage, the prevailing tint in winter being a delicate gray, whilst in slimmer the upper parts exhibit a fine mix ture of black, white, and yellow, and the breast and under parts are reddish chestnut.—
The RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (P. hyperborens, or lobipes hyperboreus, a generic distinc tion being made by Cuvier and others, on account of the sharper and more slender bill), breeds in some of the northern Scottish islands, although it is more common 'in more northern regions, and, like the former, is found in all the northern parts of the world. It is rather smaller than the gray phalarope, and is, like it, very graceful in form and movements, and finely colored. The phalaropes are very fearless of man, and very easily tamed. Their flesh is oily and unpalatable.