32 Wyoming Birds. 



ORDER VIII. PALUDICOLAE. 



GRUIDAE (Cranes). 



The Cranes are rapidly disappearing and in time will probably 

 become extinct. They feed upon frogs, small mammals, and in- 

 sects. They devour enormous numbers of insects, but they also 

 take up growing grain. 



References : 



1. "Game Birds, Wild Fowl, and Shore Birds.' Forbush, Mass. 



Board of Agriculture, 1912, pp. 482-483. 



2. Bulletin No. 31, U. S. Biological Survey, p. S3. 



3. North American Fauna, 7, p. 20-21. 



204. Grus americana: Whooping Crane. 



Mr. Richard reports that it is a summer resident in Yellow- 

 stone Park and Jackson Hole. Occasional spring migrant 

 at Cody. There is a specimen at the University, which 

 Prof. Reed says was taken from Wyoming. 



205. Grus canadensis: Little Brown Crane. 



An uncommon migrant. On April 3, 1912, one was brought 

 to Mr. Lockwood to be mounted. It had been killed near 

 the Sodergreen ranch on the Big Laramie. He was told 

 that there had been a flock of five about there for several 

 days. Knight recorded them as migratory. 



206. Grus mexicana: Sandhill Cran'e. 



Warren found this bird near the headwaters of the Green 

 River. This is the only record since 1902. 



RALLIDAE (Rails and Coots). 

 The Rails feed mostly upon grasshoppers, snails, small crus- 

 taceans and aquatic insects. Some also eat vegetable food. 



References : 



1. Weed and Dearborn : "Birds in Their Relation to Man," 

 pp. 233-234. 



212. Rallus virginianus: Virgina Rail. 



An uncommon summer resident. Lockwood reports it 

 from near Laramie. Richard reports it from near Cody. 

 Peabody also records it. 



