WYOMING Birps. Bg 
214. Porzana carolina: Sora. 
On September 14, 1911, Walker took one at Hatton. Metz 
records it from Sheridan, Blackwelder from the Teton 
region, and Peabody from Hat Creek. Knight gave other 
records of it, but it is rare. 
221. Fulica americana: Coot. 
Common summer resident over almost the entire state. 
ORDER IX. LIMICOLAE. 
PHALAROPODIDAE (Phalaropes). 
The shore birds as a whole perform a valuable service by de- 
stroying great numbers of mosquitoes and mosquito larvae. Most 
of them feed also upon other insect pests, besides animals of less 
economic importance. The Phalaropes feed upon small animals 
found in the mud on shores, including worms, crustaceae, and 
small molluscs. They also catch flies and mosquitoes from the 
air, and the larvae of these insects from the water. They are 
strictly beneficial. All shore birds, or nearly all, seem to be de- 
creasing in numbers, which is to be regretted. 
REFERENCES: 
1. “Birds in Their Relation to Man,” Weed and Dearborn, 
pa 233. 
Bureau of the Biological Survey Bulletin No. 79, by S. D. 
Judd. 
3. .Game Birds, Wild Fowl, and Shore. Birds,’ Forbush; 
Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, 1912, p. 230. 
4. “Birds of Connecticut,” Bulletin No. 20, Geological and 
Natural History Survey, pp. 266-267. 
bo 
222. Phalaropus fulicarius: Red Phalarope. 
“Very rare, if not accidental. The only specimen taken 
in Wyoming was that by C. W. Gilmore on the Laramie 
Plains during the fall of 1897. This skin was identified 
by Mr. Robert Ridgway of Washington, D. C.” (Knight. ) 
223. Lobipes lobatus: Northern Phalarope. 
Blackwelder found this species in the Teton region. “Lew- 
iston reported them at Lake Como, Jesurun from Douglas, 
