1900.] Patten.— 77^^ Natiiral History of the Ric^. 193 



can liardl}' have been the case to any great extent, as many 

 careful and arduous observers were working at ornithology at 

 that period, a period indeed which marks a distinct era in 

 the science in Ireland {vide Proceedings of the Dublin Natural 

 History Society). 



Although the Ruff may, to a certain extent, be overlooked, 

 it is nevertheless more often observed than many other wading 

 birds of equal scarcity for the following reasons : — Firstly, 

 with respect to the locality which it frequents. It is found 

 not only on the seashore and mudflat, but also inland, on 

 moor and hillside. Hence, it runs the double chance of being 

 vshot both by the ordinary sportsman (out perhaps after 

 grouse, &c.), and by the scientific collector. Sportsmen, 

 though often possessing only a very meagre knowledge of 

 ornitholog}', are, as a rule, keen observers, and so few strange 

 birds pass them unnoticed. Secondly, the Ruff is a good 

 sized bird, and easily seen. Thirdl}', it is usually tame, can be 

 approached without difficulty, identified, and easily shot. 



In the year 1870 Blake Knox records two Ruffs (a male and 

 a female) from Dublin Bay. They were immature birds shot 

 in September.^ 



Nine years afterwards the late Dr. Cox^ wrote a most admir- 

 able article on the " Birds of the Co. Dublin and Wicklow," 

 and although he was an accurate observer, it is most remark- 

 able that he did not mention the Ruff as occurring in Dublin 

 Ba}^ and so did not include it in his list. Hence it is likely 

 that the Ruff was scarcer in that locality in the time of Cox 

 than it is now. This is the more confirmed by the fact that for 

 many years past Mr. Williams has been looking out for Ruffs 

 in Dublin Ba}^ and did not shoot any till 1897, Furthermore, 

 I have recorded several instances of Ruffs from Dublin Bay, 

 all of v.'hich have occurred only quite recently. {Irish 

 Naturalist, vol. viii.). Mr. Williams, however, informs me 

 that the two Ruffs in the Irish Collection of Birds (Science 

 and Art Museum, Dublin) were shot by the late Dr. Cox on 

 the River Bann in September, i88o. They are an immature 

 male. and female. 



■• Zoologist, 1870, p. 2410. ^ Zoologisl, 1879. 



