2oS The Irish Nalnralist. [August, 



In another bird he found remains of insects and seven or eight 

 pebbles in stomach. 



Dr. Scharff, who ver}^ kindl}' examined the stomachs of 

 Ruffs which I submitted to him, reports as follow\s : — " Con- 

 stituent contents are — 



Gravel, largest pebble measuring 4 mm., average being 

 2 mm. Sand, with a great many remains of Gasteropod shells, 

 probably marine. Bits of vegetable substance like marine 

 algae, and very minute seeds of plants. Setae, probably of 

 marine worms." 



The Gasteropod shells, detected by Dr. Scharff, confirms 

 my idea that Ruffs feed, at any rate in part, upon Mollusca, in 

 addition to worms, insects, and vegetable substances. The 

 Ruff is considered a very edible bird. This we should expect 

 on account of the mixed food it eats, and also because it is 

 found inland and hence is not exclusively a sea-shore bird. 

 However, judging from the immature birds, which I have 

 myself tasted, I must candidly admit that I should prefer 

 to eat bird flesh with a less pronounced flavour of brine and 

 fish. 



Conclusion. 



Time and space do not permit me to enlarge further on 

 the subject of my paper. I have laid down my remarks 

 with a two-fold object, viz., to put together as much infor- 

 mation as is practically knowm of the Ruff as an Irish bird. 

 For this end I have collected together all the occurrences 

 of this bird in our countr^^ for many j^ears back. Secondly, 

 to try and make the subject matter of my paper readable 

 to not onlj^ the specialist in ornithology but even to those 

 who may be interested in general natural history work with- 

 out any preference for a special branch of the subject. For 

 this end I have not omitted to deal with speculative ideas 

 and theories as a means to help us to understand how 

 special structural modifications have been brought about 

 correlated with the particular temperament and modes of life 

 of the bird in question. 



I wish to express my best thanks to Mr. Warren, Mr. Ussher, 

 Mr. Barrington and Mr. Williams for their kind aid and 

 suggestions on the subject, also to Dr. Scharff and Mr. 



