212 CURSORES. 



near the spot where they purpose to search for food, 

 they gradually descend, wheeling around in circles 

 over the place until they reach the ground. Here 

 they present a graceful and elegant appearance, the 

 old birds in particular being stately and beautiful 

 objects. The plumage is mostly of a snowy white- 

 ness, except the primaries and the primary coverts, 

 which are nearly black. This bird is quite unknown 

 as a resident or even a transient visitor in the East- 

 ern and Middle States, its haunts being confined to 

 the South and West. It winters as far south as Mex- 

 ico, and breeds from Oregon northward to the Arctic 



regions. 



Their food consists of the roots of plants, which 

 they dig up with great labor from the mud of shal- 

 low ponds which have dried up during Summer; 

 they also resort to the plantations of sweet potatoes, 

 and dig among the hills for the few roots which may 

 have been left in the ground by the farmer. They 

 will also feed on small reptiles, such as frogs, toads, 

 lizards, and even small snakes. 



They are said to be extremely wary birds, and very 

 difficult to approach, the least rustling of leaves or 

 the cracking of a stick under foot being sufficient to 

 alarm them, although they may be at a considerable 

 distance. Their sense of sight and hearing is so 

 keen, that they will hear the approach of a hunter 

 at a great distance, and will discover him long before 

 he can see them. When once aware of his advances, 

 no matter how cautious he may be, they will geno.r- 



