LIMICOL^E. 63 



shore soon after the first of April, and returns south again 

 during late October. 



ORDER LIMICOLJE. Shore Birds. 



The Shore Birds very largely subsist on such animal food 

 as may be found in the soft mud or along the borders of 

 streams and ponds or on the shore of lake or ocean. All spe- 

 cies found in Ohio except the Plovers probe the mud for the 

 worms, insects and their larvae, mollusks and other small 

 animals found there, but the Plovers glean mostly from the 

 surface and may also take some vegetable matter. They 

 are decidedly useful birds, keeping in check insects which 

 other birds would not destroy. 



Family PHALAROPODID^:. Phalaropes. 



Two of the three species of this family are found in Ohio, 

 and the other one may yet be discovered. At best they are 

 unusual and wary, wading in the water and swimming on 

 its surface with ease. 



78. (223.) PHALAROPUS LOBATUS (Linn.). 227. 

 Northern Phalarope. 



Synonyms: Lobipes hyperboreus, Phalaropus hyperboreus, 



Tringa lobata. 



Red-necked Phalarope. 

 Kirtland, Am. Journal Sci. and Arts, XL, 1841, 21. 



I have been unable to add any records of this species to 

 those given by Dr. Wheaton, which are as follows : A sin- 

 gle specimen (not a pair) taken near the pier in Cleveland 

 harbor in November, 1840 (?), and preserved in Dr. Kirt- 

 land's collection. A pair taken by Dr. Jasper, on the Scioto 

 river, also in winter plumage, one of them preserved in Dr. 

 Wheaton's, the other in Oliver Davies' collection. Dr. 

 Wheaton also remarks that others have been taken by Mr. 

 R. K. Winslow and others on the lake shore. The 

 status of the species as an Ohio bird must rest upon the 

 three captured specimens. 



