. North American shore birds; a history of the snipes, sandpipers, plovers and their allies, inhabiting the beaches and marshes of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the prairies and the shores of the inland lakes and rivers of the North American continent . eding dressof the male has ever been taken within our the Old World it is found from the British islandseastward through Russia and southward to the Cape ofGood Hope, in Africa. The Ruff is polygamous andin the breeding season the males collect together tofight for the possession of the females; and althoughtheir conflicts appear
. North American shore birds; a history of the snipes, sandpipers, plovers and their allies, inhabiting the beaches and marshes of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the prairies and the shores of the inland lakes and rivers of the North American continent . eding dressof the male has ever been taken within our the Old World it is found from the British islandseastward through Russia and southward to the Cape ofGood Hope, in Africa. The Ruff is polygamous andin the breeding season the males collect together tofight for the possession of the females; and althoughtheir conflicts appear very desperate and carried onwith great energy and determination, the combatantsreceive little damage. Their excitement is intense ;they assume the position of game-cocks, with headslowered and ruffs expanded, and strike and claw withthe feet. Several of these duels may be going onat once, and after a short tussle the weaker retiresand the victor awaits another foe. It is said that thesame piece of ground (generally an open space, some-times slightly elevated) is chosen every year, and thebattles commence soon after sunrise. When the rufffalls out, the male loses all interest in the Reeves, asthe females are called, and pays no attention to his 136. 43. The Ruff. THE RUFF. 137 family. The female takes upon herself all the cares ofnesting, incubation, and rearing the young. The nestis placed on the ground in some swamp and lined withgrass. The eggs, four in number, are greenish gray,spotted with reddish brown and pale grayish winter the Ruff goes in large flocks, resorts to thebanks of mud, generally inland, and feeds on insects,and other minute organisms common to such its summer dress the male is a most conspicuousobject in the landscape, its usually very bright colorsshowing strongly amid the somber hues of the wetswampy lands it frequents. PAVONCELLA PUGNAX. Habitat.—Northern portions of Old World; occasional in easternNorth America. Breeding in west
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1895
