THE LIVING WORLD. 
393 
THE RUFF. 
It is said, though with what truth I have not been able to learn, that the 
parent often carries its young from the nest to feeding grounds, and returns 
them to the shelter of the woods again, carrying them between her feet like 
the jacksnipe. 
The Ruff (.Machetes pugnax ) is occasionally met with in the Middle States, 
but it is more common in Europe. Though frequently haunting marshy places, 
it is as often seen far inland in dry 
districts, running on the ground in 
search of insects. It is gregarious and 
extremely pugnacious. It derives its 
name from a prominent collar of long, 
but closely set, feathers, which distin¬ 
guishes the male. It is about twelve 
inches long, and though the coloring is 
variable, brown always predominates. 
The Spoon-bill Snipe (. Eurynorhyn- 
cus pygmcens ) is a native of the Arctic 
regions, found principally about the 
coasts of Nova Zembla, though it is 
occasionally met with on the northern¬ 
most shores of Norway and Russia, 
being the sole representative of the 
waders within the boreal zone. In size and color it very much resembles the 
sand-piper, but is distinguished for its very singularly shaped bill, as will be 
seen in the illustration, the natural size of which is shown. But, as we have 
frequently seen, everything is wisely adapted to the purposes of creation, and the 
wisdom of this seemingly strange provision is manifested in the habits of the 
creature. It subsists almost entirely off shrimps, which it catches along the ice¬ 
bound shores, and which its 
bill is specially adapted to 
seize and hold. Its nesting 
habits are not yet known. 
The Golden Plover 
(Charadrms virginicus ) is 
common throughout the 
United States, but more plen¬ 
tiful in the Western States. 
Early in the spring and fall 
it may be seen in large flocks 
about the edge of ponds, 
feeding on insects that burrow 
in the sand or live about 
the water, but when spring 
advances, it moves to freshly ploughed ground, and follows the furrows in 
quest of grubs and worms turned up by the plow. Flying always in flocks, 
they offer an easy target to the sportsman, who sometimes brings down as 
many as a dozen at one shot. In the evening, however, they disperse and 
roost upon the ground in pairs. During the night they may be occasionally 
heard piping their thin notes, and quite as ready to take alarm as in the daytime. 
SPOON-BILL SNIPE. 
