592 
ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF OUR BIRDS. 
187. Lagopus albus (Gmelin), Aud. WILLOW GROUSE; WHITE PTAR¬ 
MIGAN. Group I. Class c. 
Dr. Hoy mentions the captm’e of two of these birds near Racine in 1846. It 
is doubtful if it ever occurs in Wisconsin except as a very rare straggler from its 
high-latitude home. 
188. Ortyx Virginiana (Linn.), Bp. QUAIL; BOB WHITE. Group I. 
Class b. 
This species is a common resident throughout the year, though far from being 
as abundant anywhere in the state as it was twenty years ago. 
In its haunts, it stands on intermediate ground between the Ruffed Grouse and 
Prairie Chicken, occupying the borders of groves, hazel patches and open fields. 
When abundant in the fall, they congregate in flocks of from ten to thirty, often 
consisting of the two broods reared during the summer, and, if not molested, 
remain together until sirring, moving about from field to field iu tlie vicinity of 
the breeding grounds. I believe its destruction should be in-ohibited, for a num¬ 
ber of years at least. 
Food: Of two specimens examined, one had eaten one potato beetle, one 
elater, one ground-beetle (AnisodactylusJ, one grasshopper and five gi'asshopper 
eggs, probably from the grasshopper eaten; the other had eaten wild buckwheat, 
wheat and one beetle. 
Grain, seeds, berries and buckwheat, also insects and ben'ies (Wilson). Grains, 
seeds and berries (De Kay). Potato beetles (Am. Nat., Vol. VII, p. 247, A. S. 
Packard). One specimen examined by Prof. Forbes had eaten beeQes, hemiptera 
f'CoreidcBj, grasshoppers, spiders and vegetable materials. Plant-beetles were 
among the beetles; seeds of various plants and berries. In the fall and late sum¬ 
mer, largely grasshoppers. Buckwheat, coim and all kinds of grain (Brewer). 
Family CHARADRIIB : Plover. 
Fig. 142. 
Golden Plover. {Gharadrius dominicua ). From Tenney’s Zoology. 
189. Squatarola HELVETICA (LiNN.), CUV. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 
Group I. Class c. 
Tliis is not a common species with us, and occurs only during the migrations. 
1 liave not myself met with it in the state. 
Food: Worms, grubs, winged insects and berries (Wilson). Insects and berries 
(De Kay). 
