. Cassell's book of birds . continent, usually taking up their abode on extensive bogs or 40 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. marshy plains, and frequently appearing in the immediate neighbourhood of the sea, where they oftenmingle with the busy hosts that are ever ready to seize upon the rich and varied store of food leftbehind by the receding tide. Naumann asserts, however, that this species never remains near orventures into the water, but after joining in the busy scene for a short time, always returns to its usualhaunts. Unlike other Sandpipers, these birds are met with far inland, where they not
. Cassell's book of birds . continent, usually taking up their abode on extensive bogs or 40 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. marshy plains, and frequently appearing in the immediate neighbourhood of the sea, where they oftenmingle with the busy hosts that are ever ready to seize upon the rich and varied store of food leftbehind by the receding tide. Naumann asserts, however, that this species never remains near orventures into the water, but after joining in the busy scene for a short time, always returns to its usualhaunts. Unlike other Sandpipers, these birds are met with far inland, where they not only dwell uponthe banks of rivers, but wander into the plains and cultivated districts. In Central Europe they usuallyarrive in flocks, about May, and begin to leave about July and August, travelling by night, and pursuingtheir course in long lines that sometimes assume a wedge-like arrangement, the males journeying apartfrom the females. The extensive parties seen by us in the Soudan consisted almost exclusively of 1 |l -. the ruff (PhUomachuspugnax). male :n full plumage. females, from which fact we concluded that the males do not often migrate so far south as females are the first to seek and the last to leave the winter quarters, and yet strange to say, theygenerally return to their last summers abode in company with their former mates. Before and afterthe breeding season, male and female are scarcely distinguishable, either in appearance or demeanour;but during that period the former exhibit an excitement that is quite without a parallel. Waterinsects, beetles, and worms, with seeds of many kinds, afford them the means of subsistence, and forthese they seek principally at early morning or evening, visiting certain spots with great regularity, andkeeping strictly within a limited hunting ground. Whilst thus engaged they move leisurely, and withconscious dignity, keeping steadily and quietly at work, and only betraying their presence by a weakhoarse cry, as they
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbreh, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds
