FOOD OF AMERICAN PHALAROPES, AVOCETS, AND STILTS 15 
VEGETABLE FOOD 
Vegetable matter was a regular constituent in the diet of the avocet, 
being found in 56 of the 67 stomachs examined, and totaling 34.9 per 
cent for the entire period. A considerable part of this is composed 
of seeds of marsh or aquatic plants. Thus seeds of the sago pond- 
weed (Potamogeton pectinatus) were found 17 times and those of some 
related form once. Salt grass (DisticJilis spicata) was taken 3 times, 
bayonet-grass (Scirpus paludosus) 7, and related bulrushes of the 
same genus as the latter, also were found 7 times. The names of a 
few scattered seeds from other groups are given in Table 3. 
Vegetable matter other than seeds also was eaten. Thus leaves 
and stems of the sago pondweed were abundantly represented and 
were identified in 17 stomachs. Miscellaneous bits of vegetation 
classed as vegetable rubbish were found 19 times. This matter in 
part was evidently picked up at random in feeding in shallow water. 
Some of this must be classed as waste, but as it is possible to extract 
nutriment from a portion it must be considered of some value. It 
is ground up in digestion by means of the gravel and hard seeds 
swallowed for the purpose. 
SUMMARY 
Analysis of the food of the avocet shows that this species has no 
injurious tendencies whatever. Much of the animal food belongs to 
forms that are economically neutral. The weevils eaten are to be 
placed on the credit side of the account, as they are nearly always 
harmful or may become so if given opportunity. 
In some regions the " snipe, " as the avocet is sometimes known, is 
considered a game bird or is hunted for food. Shooting avocets has no 
element of sport, however, as it is easy to walk up within gun 
range of them, and they are fearless and frequently come around 
to examine the hunter. Though the birds are of fair size, the flesh 
is not savory and offers no excuse for killing them. They rightfully 
have been removed from the category of game birds and are now 
accorded full protection under the regulations of the Federal 
migratory-bird treaty act. This is fortunate indeed for their con- 
tinuance, as they are large and conspicuous and easily killed. They 
rear but one brood of four young each season and are subject nor- 
mally to many dangers, so that with shooting the species would soon 
be exterminated. With increase in cultivation of lands throughout 
their range their haunts have been much restricted. The birds 
remaining have in many instances been brought into closer relation 
with man, so that the good they do is more apparent. 
Table 3. — Material identified in the food of the avocet as determined from the 
examination of 67 stomachs, and the number of stomachs in which each item 
was found 
Animal Matter 
Phyllopoda 
Apus sp 
Odonata (dragonflies) 
Dragonfly nymphs 
Ephemerida (Mayflies) 
Ephemeridse (nymphs) 
Animal Matter— Continued 
Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc.) 
Acridiidse 4 
Heteroptera (true bugs) 
Notonectasp. (back-swimmers) 3 
Belostomatidse (giant water bugs) 1 
Arctocorixa dispersa (water-boatman) 1 
Other Corixidse (water-boatmen) 22 
Other heteropterans 1 
