THE RUFF 



{machetes pugnax) 



TF this curious species still manages to retain a 

 place as an indigenous British bird, that is all 

 that can be said for it. We are still loth to regard 

 the RufF as extinct in our islands as a breeding 

 species, for possibly it may yet be saved to us if 

 the law already in existence for its protection be 

 strictly enforced. The RufF was formerly a very 

 common summer visitor to the marshes of East 

 Anglia, but is only known now to resort to a few 

 localities in Lincolnshire and Norfolk. Professor 

 Newton says there is but one locality left. Mr. 

 Saunders states that a hen bird was shot from 

 the nest as recently as 1882 in the former county, 

 and also that a few pairs succeed in rearing 

 their broods in the latter county. As we have 

 found to be the case with several other species, 

 numbers of Ruffs pass our islands on migra- 

 tion, but even these are dwindling in amount. 



