352 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1941 



crab scraps, or shrimp — all ground, as the mouths of the birds are rather small. 

 Mealworms are particularly relished by the birds. 



SNIPE, WOODCOCK, and SANDPIPERS (Scolopacidae). The feeding hab- 

 its of the snipe and sandpipers are somewhat similar to those of the plover and 

 the turnstones. Woodcocks are specialized feeders that in the wild live largely 

 on earthworms obtained by boring into the ground with their long beaks which 

 have flexible tips that open in the ground, grasp the worm, and pull it out. 

 They are rarely kept in captivity, but a few have survived when fed mealworms 

 or earthworms in earth. Finely cut strips of meat, mealworms, and earth- 

 worms might be placed in earth to tempt them. 



AVOCETS and STILTS (Recurvirostridae). These beautiful birds inhabit 

 the shores of shallow lakes and alkali ponds. They feed on minute animals 

 such as tiny shrimp, brine shrimp, and other forms; probably they take some 

 plant food as well. They are not known to the author to have been kept in 

 captivity; but it seems probable that they might survive if given mealworms, 

 meat, fish, shrimp, crab, and a variety of green material finely ground and fed 

 in water. The birds spend much time wading and swimming and should be 

 provided with shallow pools and plenty of ground on which to exercise. 



PHALAROPES (Phalaropodidae). These little swimming, snipelike birds 

 might thrive on the same mixture suggested for avocets and stilts, but they 

 have rarely, if ever, been kept in captivity. 



CRAB-PLOVERS (Dromadidae). Feed same as shore birds. 

 THICK-KNEES (Burhinidae). Feed a mixture of ground or finely chopped 

 fish, meat, seeds, bread, green vegetation and mealworms. 

 PRATINCOLES and COURSERS (Glareolidae). Feed same as shore birds. 

 SEED-SNIPES (Thinocoridae). Feed same as shore birds. 

 SHEATH-BILLS (Chionidae). The birds of this family have not to our 

 knowledge been kept in captivity. They inhabit the southern shores of the 

 Southern Hemisphere and their habits appear to be somewhat between those 

 of the gulls and petrels. It is possible that they could be successfully kept by 

 offering them mixtures of ground or finely chopped meat, fish, mealworms, 

 shellfish such as clams, crabs, shrimp, and some green food, fed on or in 

 shallow water. They should have pools in which to bathe and swim. 



SKUAS and JAEGERS (Stercorariidae). Feed small pieces of meat, mice, 

 small rats, small birds, and fish. They should have a pool in which to bathe. 

 GULLS and TERNS (Laridae). Feed fish, mice, fruit, meat, bread. Pool 

 for bathing. 



SKIMMERS (Rynchopidae). Feed fish and meat. Should have plenty of 

 water for bathing and swimming, and some shore space. 



AUKS, AUKLETS, and MURRES (Alcidae). These are heavy-bodied, small- 

 winged seacoast birds that obtain fish and perhaps other food from the sea 

 and usually nest on ledges, in crevices, or in burrows in the ground or under 

 rocks. They are rarely kept in captivity, but should not be difiicult to keep. 

 It is suggested that they be fed small strips of fish, squid, and perhaps some 

 shellfish, meats, and shrimp. Young tufted puffins thrived when they were 

 fed from the hand with strips of fish from % to i^ inch in diameter and 

 2 to 4 inches long that had been dipped in salt water. 



The birds should be provided with a pool in which they can swim and dive, 

 and with rocks or ground on which they can rest. They do not need much 

 land on which to exercise. They are not able to take off on the wing from the 

 small areas in which they will normally be enclosed so they can be kept in 

 open-top enclosures, as well as in cages. 



