RUFF.
settled down ; after remaining stmu11 hue she was easily approached rind obtained. Shortly after a Ruff that had
joined a large flock of Kuols was killed by a shut from the punt-gun, as they were on the point of alighting to the
dummies. The unfortunate Knots siulercd considerably, as over thirty were picked up, having fallen among the
decoys. The last ltulf that I observed this season was n single bird «ith a Hock of about a dozen Uuldeu Plover
on the Oth of September. Attracted by the dummies, they flew across the bows of the punt at a reasonable
distance, and the big gun was discharged ; eight of the Plovers dropped at once, but the Rutl' continued his
course as if uninjured, though he seemed to flinch when the shot was fired. While proceeding to pick up the
slain, I heard one of the men exclaim " lie's down." On producing the glasses a speck was seen on the water,
and one of the punts being despatched towards the spot, the bird was discovered and brought back.
There was a great falling-off this year in the numbers of Ruffs and Reeves; I did not observe above a down all
through August and September. The season before, hundreds frequented the tlats early in September, and they
continued to arrive till the 23th of the month, when I fell in with and shot the last straggler. Over a hundred
and fifty wore obtained with the assistance of the punt- and shoulder-guns; the greater number, however, were
killed while firing at other Waders.
I have ascertained, by examining my nofes, that on the IWhh of June, heavy rain having fallen during the
night, and squalls of wind continued from the north and east, there were in the morning numerous flocks of
Waders on the marshes round lliekliug Broad. About twenty Ruffs and Reeves and as many Wood-Sandpipers
were on Rush Hills, and several Curlew and flocks of Dunlins appeared on wing as soon as I fired a shot. A
down Reeves and two Wood-Sandpipers were picked up, several that were wounded escaping into the thick
cover about file swamps, where it was impossible to follow them over the waving bogs. After this the birds
became remarkably wild : in I he afternoon the Hull's had disappeared, ami the Wood-Sandpipers were scattered
in small parties of two or three, or perhaps double that number, over the sladcs on the different hills and
marshes.
There is no further reference to Ruffs in nvy notes fill after ten years, when I again happened to bo at
Potter Ilcigham in April l>sS.'i. On reaching the Broad at daybreak on the 2Gth, the wind blowing strong from
the south-east, I put up twu Huffs on Rush Hills, but unfortunately they ruse out of rangeand made off at once
fowards the east; there were also eight Wigeon, a pair of Garganoy, and a single leal on the various sladcs on
the biR. The wind was still from the same quarter the following morning, and two RulTs and a Reeve were
moving about and feeding on the centre of Rush Hills ; one of the males showed a brown frill, and the other
was sandy-coloured, but neither was quite perfect. It was impossible to get within shot of either punt- or
shoulder-gun, so in order to put them up, in hopes they might pass at a moderate distance, we despatched one uf the
buats to go round and attempt to drive them in a line for the position we bad taken up. A Run", entirely black,
which had escaped notice behind a patch of rushes, was the first to start, and he instantly joined the others when
they rose on wing. After circling round for a few minutes, they all made olf, head to wind, and were not seen
again that day.
On Saturday tho 2Sth, the wind had veered more to the east; on our way down to the Broad, the
Grasshopper-Warbler was heard for the first time that season. The party of Hull's seen the previous day were
now on Swimeoats, but proved exceedingly wild, and there was not a chance to get within range for a shot.
They were evidently only on their way to " lands ayont the sea" *, as they were gone the next day. Rain fell
* In 1 The Moo, nnd tlic Loch' fl.y J. Coli|uhonn, IMO) M find :—
" Ilk flow'r that blooms on foreign It'll
Wad mind ma o' the heslber-Uell |
Ilk Utile stream let's jeuk and turn
Wad mind me o' (ilenoarock bum |
Lsnda may be fair ayont the sea.
RUFF.
on Monday the 30th, with wind from fhe north-east. There were five lialTs and three Reeves on Rush Hills,
but all wild and keeping a gorxl look-out in case of an approach, and rising on wing on the first signs of danger.
1 watched them through the glasses running at one another and jumping up, but no real lighting could lie seen;
the females were standing together at a short distance, looking on quietly. There was one solitary female
standing on aiiolhcr part of the hill, that had a nest among some low tufts of grass. On the follow ing day. May
1st, I only saw ono Ruff, and he was probably in attendance on the female with the nest. Other Ruffs,
which were evidently on the passage to tic north, were seen on the 1th, hut only the resident on the Oth,
aud on the Kill he was again sighted. After this the nest was robbed, and then the birds took their departure.
On tho 18th a flock of fifteen Reeves was seen on Rush Hills, and they remained in the district till the 21st,
when I observed them lor the last time, feeding on Swimeoats.
While staying in Norfolk, I frequently remarked that on the first arrival of these birds, about the second
week in April, the long feathers forming the frill round the neck of the male had scarcely attained half their
length. In those days they were to be seen in flocks of from ten or twenty to live or six times that number.
On two or three occasions, on the hills around flic i I roads, I have been enabled to watch these large gathering!
at close quarters, and have met with goo 1 Opportunities for observing thciraetions while lighting and feeding.
Their bailies, how ever, appear to be soon over ; a can pie of Rulls square up to one aunt her for a moment or two,
and then separate to feed or again go through the same performance with their nearest neighbour. Though
occasionally jumping and striking after the manner of a gamecock, I never uuticed any of the combatants
receive the slightest injury. A large lloek of Itulfs and Reeves is a most curious sight, the various-coloured
plumages of tho males, as they run hero and there, giving a strange appearance to the whole assemblage.