1 88 The Irish Naturalist. [August, 



It should be remembered that the Riiff, like many other 

 wading birds, becomes still scarcer on our coast lands as 

 autumn advances, consequently it afforded me no small 

 amount of interest when I obtained an immature specimen 

 on the nth of October, last year {i.e., ^899), shot by Mr. \V. 

 Walker at the North Bull, Dublin Bay, and forwarded to me 

 by Mr. K- Williams. But the late date of occurrence was not 

 the only interesting point about this specimen, for in addition 

 it had ab'cady assumed almost completely its winter phimage. 

 Immature Ruffs generally leave our coavSts while still in autumn 

 garb, hence the increased value of a specimen obtained in 

 winter plumage. 



I made a comparison between the plumages of some imma- 

 ture autumn specimens and that of the winter Ruff' and found 

 that they differed considerably. 



Autumn. = 



At this time of year the feathers of the forehead and crown are blackish 

 brown, edged with buff. Those of the occiput and nape are nut brown, 

 with faintly marked black centres. 



The cheeks, ear coverts, and lore are rufous coloured, and faintly 

 speckled. Under the chin is a wdiite triangular patch. From this a faintly 

 marked white line extends upwards and backwards under the ear coverts. 

 The ante-orbital feathers are light grey. The whole throat (upper and 

 lower regions) and breast are of a rich buff colour. The abdomen and 

 undertail coverts are wdiite. The rectrices are greyish, with black tips 

 and rufous edges. The middle upper tail coverts and lower back 

 feathers are dark brown, with dull rufous edges. The outer upper tail 

 coverts are white. The inter-scapulars, scapulars and tertiaries are 

 black, with rnfous edges. The wing coverts greyich brown, edged 

 similarly. The secondaries are dark grey, with white edges, the 

 primaries being dull black or very dark brown. The small leg feathers are 

 dun-coloured, slightly mixed with white. Any slight differences which 

 exist between the plumages of the male and female in autumn are to be 

 found chiefly in the region of the breast and throat. In the female these 

 are often of a richer buff colour, which may extend further backwards 

 towards the abdomen than in the case of the male. 



Mr. Williams has kindly allowed me to examine his pair of immature 

 Ruffs shot 2Sth August, 1S97. They are particularly well-marked, and 



^ In autumn and winter the males and females are practically alike in 

 plumage. 



^ Inasmuch as the feathers are liable to fade after death, even in well- 

 preserved specimens, I have taken notes on the colour of the plumage 

 while the birds were still in the flesh in a freeh condition. 



