Wyominc Birds. 33 



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, 



p. 233. 



2. 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. 



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, 



