﻿BULLETIlSr 1350^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE 



Htmenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps) 



Syrphoctonus sp 



Alloxystasp 



Zelotypa sp 



Camponotinse 



Unidentified ants 



Bethylidae 



Crabronidse ._ 



Other hymenopterans 



Araneida (spiders) 



Spiders. 



Animal Matter— Continued 

 AcARiNA (mites) 



Hydrachnidse (water-mites) . 

 Unidentified mite 



Table 1. — Material identified in the food of the northern phalarope as determined 

 from the examination of 155 stomachs, and the number of stomachs in which 

 each item was found — Continued 



Animal Matter — Continued 



DiPTERA (flies)— Continued 



ChironomidaB (larvae) 22 



Chironomidae (pupae) 17 



Other Chironomidae (gnats) 11 



Aedes (Heteronycha) spencerii (larvee) 26 



Other Culicidae (mosquitoes) (larvse)..- 3 



Stratiomyiidse (soldier flies) (larvae) 4 



DolichopodidSB (long-footed flies) 1 



Syrphidse (flower flies) (larvae) 8 



Leria leucostoma 2 



Ephydra gracilis (adults and pupae) 5 



Ephydra hians (larvae) 1 



Ephydra sp. (adults) 14 



Ephydra sp. (larvae and pupae) 18 



Other Ephydridae (allrali flies) 1 



Unidentified dipterous larvae and pupae 6 



Other dipterans 12 



MOLLUSCA (snails) 



Physagyrina... 



Planorbis trivolvis 



Littorina sitchana 



Other gastropods. 



Pisces (fishes) 



Unidentified fish . 



Vegetable Matter — Seeds 



Ruppia occidentalis (widgeon grass) 



Potamogeton pectinatus (sago pondweed) . 



Panicum sp. (switch-grass) 



Distichlis spicata (salt grass).. 



Cyperus sp. (nut-grass) 



Scirpus paludosus (bayonet-grass) 



Scirpus sp. (bulrush) 



Carex sp. (sedge) 



Unidentified Cyperaceae (sedges) 



Rumex crispus (curled dock) 



Rumex sp. (dock) 



Castalia sp. (waterlily) 



Unidentified legume (beans and peas) 



Euphorbiaceae (spurges)... 



Malvaceae (mallows) 



Menyanthes trifoliata (bog bean). 



Unidentified seeds.. 



Vegetable rubbish.. 



WILSON PHALAROPE 



Steganopus tricolor 



The Wilson phalarope (PI. II), unlike the other two phalaropes, 

 is limited in its range to the Western Hemisphere. The species 

 breeds in the northern part of the United States and southern 

 Canada, from Indiana, Colorado, and eastern California north to 

 central Alberta and Lake Winnipeg. It is more inland in distribu- 

 tion than other species o ' this family. In the winter season it is 

 found in southern South America in Chile and Argentina, and ranges 

 south to the Falkland Islands. In spring it reaches this country 

 late in April and is on its breeding grounds early in May. The 

 return southward takes place in August, and by September the birds 

 have departed. 



For a summer home the Wilson phalarope chooses open grassy 

 marshes surrounding shallow pools and lakelets. The birds may 

 arrive in flocks but soon separate into pairs tliat form little colonies 

 in the marshes. For a few days all is animation about their chosen 

 homes, as ardent, brilliantly plum.aged females pursue coy, plainly 

 colored males on the wing or across the water. Later, when the eggs 

 have been deposited, the birds are more retiring, so that it is possible 

 to traverse the channels leading through the breeding colonies without 

 suspecting that phalaropes are concealed close at hand. On walking 

 out through the shallow water one or two males may be seen to 

 appear and rest on the water near by, or circle restlessly about 

 uttering soft honking calls. For a week or so the females accompany 

 them and share their anxiety, but later these emancipated wives 

 desert their husbands, band together, and drift away to join others 



