18 BULLETIN 1359, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
27 times, were most abundantly represented. Remains of many were 
found in several of the stomachs opened, and small fragments were 
often present in stomachs filled with other insects. Water striders 
(Gerris) were found three times, true water bugs of small size (Belo- 
stoma) six times, and back-swimmers (Notonectidse) twice. A shore 
bug (Soldo) was identified once. Shore bugs are often abundant on 
mud bars where stilts delight to feed, but apparently are usually 
overlooked or disregarded. 
Coleoptero. — Beetles, practically as important in the food as the 
bugs, composed 32.4 per cent, but were present in much greater 
variety. A tiger beetle (Cicindelo), found in one instance, is the 
only species taken that may be considered beneficial. Small flat 
beetles of the genus Bembidion, of which a variety of species inhabit 
muddy shores, were found twice and other ground beetles (Cara- 
bidos) seven times. Crawling water-beetles (Haliplidse) were identified 
in 18 instances, among them representatives of various species. Pre- 
dacious diving beetles were identified 26 times and their larvas 9 
times. The species of this group taken by the stilt were those of 
small size, as the bird is unable to swallow the larger forms. The 
same fact was observed in the water-scavenger beetles identified in 
58 stomachs. The genus Berosus, the species of which are frequently 
abundant in shallow water, was found 21 times and the genus Tropi- 
sternus, 28. Larvae of water-scavenger beetles were identified in 22 
instances, so that on the whole this group of beetles was abundantly 
represented. 
An abundance of weevils is noted as one of the prominent items 
among the beetles. Curculionidae alone were represented in 44 stom- 
achs and billbugs (SpJienopJiorus) in 6. The curculios eaten were 
mainly individuals of the genera Bagous and Onychitis, which occur 
on aquatic vegetation. Weevils are mostly injurious, and attention 
may be drawn to the evident predilection for these beetles shown 
by the stilt. 
Diptero. — Flies amount to 9.7 per cent of the total food. The 
majority were still in the immature stages, though occasionally adult 
flies were eaten. These remains were most abundant in material from 
the Great Basin region, where certain groups of dipterans abound. 
The young of small crane flies (Limnobiinse) were found 3 times and 
of gnats (Chironomidse) 4 times. The larval forms of mosquitoes 
were identified twice, evidence of good that may be accomplished in 
the destruction of these pests. Alkali flies (Ephydridse) , and soldier 
flies (Stratiomyiidae) , represented by several forms, were encoun- 
tered 9 times each. The species of flies taken, so far as it was 
possible to identify them, are without exception those having larval 
forms of aquatic habit. 
Mollusco. — Represented by several common species of marsh or 
pond inhabiting snails, mollusks make up 7.9 per cent of the food, and 
were identified 35 times in all, most abundantly in material collected 
in Florida. In 37 birds taken in April (all but 2 from Florida) snails 
amounted to 15.4 per cent of the food. 
Pisces. — Small fishes were identified in 7 instances, but amount 
to only 3.2 per cent of the total food. A carp was found once and 
tiny sunfishes twice, but remains of others were not identified. The 
fishes eaten were of the smallest size and have little economic 
significance. 
