KEEL-BREASTED BIRDS. 253 
States, and other species in Europe, Asia, and Africa. 
They go south in October, return in March, and lay in 
April. The nest is on the ground and formed of leaves, 
The eggs, generally four, are light reddish-yellow in color, 
with red and brown protective markings. The mother- 
Fic. 289.—Ruff (Machetes pugnax). 
birds are noted for their care of the young, and have been 
seen taking one between their legs and flying off at the 
approach of danger. The American or Wilson’s snipe 
(Gallinago Wilsoni) is a typical form inhabiting the en- 
tire continent. It attains a length of eleven inches. The 
