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 Kast- 
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 gener- 
