ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF OUR BIRDS. 
599 
Food: Mainly crabs; also snails and bramble berries (Wilson). Small shells, 
insects, worms, crabs and beri'ies (De Kay). Principally small Fiddler era s, 
also sea-worms, salt-water shellfish and other animals (Audubon). 
223. Numenius Hudsonicus, Lath. HUDSONIAN CURLEW. Group I. 
Class c. 
A very rare migrant. . . 
Food: Small worms and shells; also bramble berries (Wilson). Aquatic in¬ 
sects, worms, small marine mollusks and seeds of aquatic plants (De Kay). 
Grasshoppers and berries (Nuttall). 
234 Numenius borealis (Forst.), Lath. ESKIMO CURLEW. Group I. 
Class c. 
This species has not been taken by the writer, but Mr. Nelson mentions it as a 
rather common migrant in Ilhnois. 
Food: In autumn, in Massachusetts, grasshoppers and berries; in Labrador, 
curlew-berries (Audubon). Curlew-berry (Empetrum nigrum) and small snails. 
The first is their principal and favorite food (Coues). 
Family TANTALID.®: Ibises, etc. 
235. Tantalus loculator, Linn. WOOD IBIS. Group II. Class b. 
In regard to this species Mr. Nelson says: “An exceedingly rare summer visit¬ 
ant from Southern lUinois.” “ Dr. Hoy has a specimen in his coUection obtained 
at Racine, September 10, 1869, and states that a second specimen was obtained 
near Milwaukee, and is now in a museum at that place.” 
Food: Fish, reptiles, young alligators, frogs (Wilson). Entirely fish and aquatic 
reptiles, of which it destroys more than it can eat. Frogs, young alligators 
and water snakes (Coues from Audubon). Frogs, young alligators, wood rats, 
young Rails, Grackles, Fiddler and other crabs, snakes and small turtles 
(Audubon). 
Family GrRUIDAl: Cranes. 
236. Grus Americana (Linn.), Temm. WHITE CRANE; WHOOPING 
CRANE. Group H. Class c. 
This species was formerly a common migrant along the western margin of 
the state, but now moves north and south, farther west, largely, if not alto¬ 
gether. 
Food: Marine worms, insects, grains, mice, moles and rats (Wilson). 
227. Gnus Canadensis (Linn.), Temm. NORTHERN SANDHILL CRANE. 
Group II. Class c. 
I 
This species was formerly abundant in the state, and some used to bleed here. 
It appears, however, to have taken the Dakota fever and gone west, like other 
people, to take up new claims. 
