530 
THE STORY OF THE BIRDS. 
Of the locality, being more bulky in moist places, and sometimes even float¬ 
ing on the water. The four eggs are pear-shaped, and of a huffish brown 
ground-color, upon which are blackish-brown streaks and blotches, with 
underlying markings of gray. 
Sandpiper—This bird gets its name from its shrill, piping cry, and the 
further fact that it is found along the seashore except in the breeding-season, 
when it frequents moors and marshes. Its beak is straight and slender and 
it is further distinguished by the feathers of the forehead being considerably 
extended. The sandpiper’s scanty nest is placed on the ground, and, at the 
proper season, contains four pear-shaped spotted eggs. The best known 
forms of the common sandpiper are the green sand-piper, the red shank, the 
green shank and the ruff. The males of the last named have a large ruff 
around the neck and are very combative in disposition. In length the male 
measures about twelve inches and the female some two inches less. For¬ 
merly common in the English marshes, the ruff is now mainly a passing 
visitor to- Britain, its breeding-haunts ranging from the most northern lands 
of Europe and Asia as far south as the valley of the Danube and the Kirghiz 
Steppes; while in winter it wanders as far as the Cape, northern India, 
Burma, and even more remote regions. 
Ruby Topaz Humming Bird—This species is confined to South America, 
and is sometimes known as the King humming bird. It is distinguished 
by the brilliant ruby color in the head and neck. 
Magnificent Humming Bird—The crested head and little spangled frills 
on each side of the neck make this bird conspicuous even among its bril¬ 
liantly colored fellows. The upper plumage is a glittering golden green, 
with a huffish band across the rump; the crest is long and of a dark cinna¬ 
mon color; the throat is glittering green, bordered with cinnamon, and 
the feathers of the neck are tipped with a round spot of green. The under 
parts are gray. Its flight is very rapid. 
Great Bird of Paradise—The paradise birds are all supplied with gorgeous 
plumage. The great bird of paradise, found in Papua, the Aru and nearby 
islands, is the largest of the family, measuring from fifteen to eighteen inches. 
The body, wings and tail are of a rich coffee-brown, which deepens on the 
breast to a blackish violet or purple-brown. The whole of the top of the 
head and neck is of an exceedingly delicate straw-yellow, the feathers being 
short and close set, so as to resemble plush or velvet; the lower part of the 
throat up to the eye is clothed with scaly feathers of an emerald-green color, 
and with a rich metallic gloss, and velvety plumes of a still deeper green 
