192 7 he Irish Nat2iralist. [August, 



From the above table it ma}^ be seen that the Ruff has 

 occurred in iS counties out of the 32, that is in more than half 

 of the total number. It has visited the coastlands of all four 

 provinces (Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connaught), but has 

 been most frequently seen in Ulster and lycinster — CvSpecially 

 the counties of Down and Dublin. 



At the time when Thompson wrote it evidently visited the 

 North-eastern coastlands of Ireland more frequently than 

 other districts. Still, I think, had this species been better 

 known by other ornithologists at the time, that more records 

 from the I^einster coast should have been published. 



Along the Ueinster coast no more suitable localit}^ could be 

 found for the Ruff than the extensive mudslobs and grassy 

 slopes of the North Bull, Dublin Ba}-, and I have little doubt 

 that if this bird w^ere more eagerly sought for that it would be 

 oftener observ^ed. 



The table further .shows that the Ruff is more often found in 

 August and September than at any other time of year, also 

 that the vast majorit}^ of birds taken were immature\ in the 

 autumn plumage. As the 3'oung birds often go in pairs, the 

 sexes in autumn seem rather evenly divided. 



In the spring, according to Thompson's records, it is chiefly 

 males that have been captured, often in batches, up to six in 

 number. This is an interesting fact, as manj^ observers 

 consider that the females on the wdiole are more numerous 

 than the males. Subsequent to the publication of Thompson's 

 valuable work there have not been many Ruffs noticed in 

 Ireland. 



Watters, who wrote much about the same time as Thompson, 

 mentions two specimens obtained on the Bog of Allen in 

 July, 1850. 



Few occurrences of the Ruff are recorded in the Proceedings 

 of the Dubliu Natural Histor>^ Society between 1849 and 1S71. 

 During these years the Ruff^ seems to have visited Ireland in 

 smaller numbers than during the earlier parts of the century. 

 It may be suggested that perhaps it was overlooked. This 



^ Unfortunately the sexes and ages of man)' specimens were not 

 determined. 



=" Nat. Hist, of Ireland, vol. ii., p. 230 to 232. 



