384 GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



have but three species in North America. They frequent 

 marshes and open plains (their scientific name, Paludic'olse, 

 means "marsh inhabitants"), and feed on both vegetable 

 and animal food, the latter consisting largely of small rep- 

 tiles and amphibians. 



Erect and tall, they may be seen striding swiftly along with 

 head thrown back, or strutting around their mates; while in 

 spring they often stand in rows and proceed to stalk about in 

 single file, or dance to meet one another with nodding heads, 

 necks advanced, and wings widely outspread. Thereafter they 

 bow toward the ground, jump in the air, and perform graceful 

 antics of all descriptions. The chosen spot for these dances is 

 commonly near water. The male courts his spouse in somewhat 

 similar fashion, and twigs or feathers are often tossed in the air in 

 sport, to be caught again ere they touch the ground. 1 



Snipes, Sandpipers, Plovers, and Allies. The well-known 

 shore birds, included in the group Limic'olae, usually have 

 long, slender legs, with the hind toe, when present, elevated 

 above the others (Fig. 197). The scientific name refers to 

 their habitat (Lat. limus, "mud" ; colere, "dwell"). The bill 

 is usually long and slender and more or less soft, especially 

 at the tip. With their bills these birds probe the mud and 

 sand of pond and river margins and the seacoast for their 

 food, which consists of small crustaceans, worms, and mol- 

 lusks. The plumage is usually brown or gray, with some 

 white intermixed. During the breeding season many species 

 give utterance to more or less musical cries. At other sea- 

 sons a number of species have shrill call notes or whistles. 

 The eggs are usually laid on the sand in a hollow scraped for 

 the purpose. They are very often protectively colored. Like 

 the domestic fowl, the young are able to take care of them- 

 selves from the very first. Their nestling plumage is also 

 protectively colored. 



1 Cambridge Natural History, Vol. IX. 



