FOOD OF AMERICAN PHALAEOPES, AVOCETS, AND STILTS « 
(DisticTdis spicata) , 3 times. These seeds are in the main fairly firm 
and hard, and this, with the small number taken, suggests that they 
were swallowed in part in lieu of gravel. Gravel is a fairly common 
element in these stomachs but may at times be difficult to obtain. 
SUMMARY 
The northern phalarope is among the smallest of our shorebirds. 
Although better known than the preceding species its ways do not 
bring it directly in contact with man. The bulk of its food is com- 
posed of animal matter. A large part is of slight economic import- 
ance, as the forms taken are of no significance in relation to crops or 
other products save as they may perchance furnish food for other 
organisms. Attention must be called however to the large number of 
mosquito larvse consumed by the birds in May and June. In help- 
ing to check these pests, the northern phalarope demonstrates its 
value, and for this reason is worthy of every consideration. 
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 
Animal Matter 
Anntjlata 
Nereis sp. (marine worms) 
Crustacea 
Unidentified 
Phyllopoda 
Artemia fertilis (brine shrimps) 
Daphniidae (waterfleas) (winter eggs). 
Amphtpoda (shrimplets) 
Pontoporeia sp. 
Gammarus confervicolus. 
Gammarus sp ... 
Other amphipods 
Isopoda (sowbugs) 
Cymothoidea 
Odonata (dragonflies) 
Dragonfly nymphs 
Ephemerida (Mayflies) 
Ephemeridae (larvae) 
Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc.) 
Unidentified grasshopper 
Hemiptera (true bugs) 
Corizussp. _ 
Notonecta sp. (back-swimmers)... 
Corixidae (water-boatmen) 
Other heteropterans 
Agallia sanguinolenta (leaf hopper) 
Other homopterans 
Trichoptera (caddisflies) 
Chilostigma praeteritum 
Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) 
Unidentified moths. 
Unidentified caterpillars. 
Animal Matter— Continued 
Coleoptera (beetles) 
Dyschirius sp 
Bembidionsp 
Pterostichus sp 
Amarasp 
Other Carabidae (ground beetles)... 
Haliplus borealis 
Haliplus ruficollis .... 
Haliplus longulus 
Haliplus sp 
Peltodytes callosus 
Other Haliplidae (crawling water-beetles) ... 
Laccophilus sp. 
Coelambussp... 
Deronectes sp. 
Hydroporus sp 
Dytiscidae (larvae) _. 
Other Dytiscidae (predacious diving beetles) . 
Berosussp. 
Berosus sp. (larvae) „ 
Other Hydrophilidae (larvae) 
Other Hydro philidae (water-scavenger bee- 
tles) 
Sphaeridium scarabaeoides 
Unidentified aquatic beetles .... 
Cafius bistriatus 
Other Staphylinidae (rove beetles). 
Heterocerus sp 
Dolopius lateralis _ 
Unidentified Elateridae (click beetJ~s) 
Monoxiasp 
Systena bitaeniata 
Systena sp... ... 
Crepidodera sp -, 
Other Chrysomelidae (leaf beetl' . 
Blapstinus sp.- _« , 
Otiorhynchidae (weevils) , „ 
Hyperodessp 
Bagous restrictus 
Rhinoncus pyrrhopus 
Other Curculionidae 
Scolytidae (bark beetles) 
Unidentified Rhynchophora 
Diptera (flies) 
Tipulidae (crane flies) 
Tipulidae (larvae) 
Chironomus sp 
Orthocladiussp.. , 
