August, 1900.] 187 



THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE RUFF. 



By CHARLES J. PATTEN, B.A., M,D. 



[Read before the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, February 20, 1900.] 



(Pirate 6.) 

 There are certain species of migratory birds included in the 

 Irish fatina which cannot be considered as absohitely rare, 

 still they occur in such limited numbers, and their visits to 

 our country are of such a brief duration, that they are liable 

 to escape the observations of many ornithologists. Of such 

 birds the Ruff — Machetes pugnax (lyinn.) — is a good example. 

 It probably occurs in Ireland every autumn, but still is by no 

 means plentiful. The late eminent ornithologist, Mr. A. G. 

 More, mentions it as " a rare visitor^ chiefly in autumn," ^ 

 and many other observers agree likewise on this subject. 



The question as to whether the particulars of each and every 

 occurrence of the Ruff should be fully recorded or not is an 

 important matter for consideration. There seems to be a 

 difference of opinion on the subject. Some ornithologists 

 seem to think the bird too common. For my own part I think 

 it is well worth while collecting information of as full a nature 

 as possible concerning the occurrence of the Ruff in Ireland. 

 The bird is, to my mind, sufficiently rare for such research. 



This is evident when we hear that all the records known of 

 the Ruff as a visitor to our shores when compiled number 

 approximately only about 86. 



At first sight these numbers may seem large, but, consider- 

 ing that the records date^ from the year 1821' up to the present 

 {i.e.. a period of nearly 80 years), it is very unlikely that the 

 total number of birds occurring each year could be very large. 



Since I last published notes on the occurrence of the Ruff 

 in Dublin Bay {Irish Naturalist, vol. viii., p. 225), I have 

 endeavoured to extend my knowledge on the natural history 

 of this bird. I have lately received some valuable information 

 from correspondents and have added new specimens to my 

 collection for the purposes of examination and comparison. 



^ Life and Letters of A. G. More, p. 601. 



= To Mr. TJssher I am largely indebted for notes on this part of the 

 subject. I have also consulted Thompson, and Watters' " Birds of Ire- 

 land," the Proceedings of the Dublin Natural History Society. &C., &C-;, from 

 which sources I have obtained much information. 



A 



