SANDPIPERS 185 



male bird in the breeding season ; but I have no- 

 where found any explanation of the name " Reeve." 

 On showing one which I had just shot to a Norfolk 

 fenman some years ago, inquiring what bird he 

 took it to be, he replied, " A Dick-reeve," i.e. dyke- 

 reeve. Now amongst the officers of the shire who 

 had to render their accounts periodically at a Court 

 Baron were the "shire-reeve" (modern "sheriff") 

 and the " dyke - reeve," whose business it was to 

 superintend the repairs of the dykes to prevent 

 floods ; and it appears not unlikely that as this bird 

 was constantly to be found about the marsh dykes, 

 it came to be known as the " dick -reeve." See 

 an article " On the title of Reeve," Journ. Brit. 

 Archceol. Assoc, vol. xxviii. p. 35. 



These birds were formerly held in great esteem 

 for the table, as appears by the frequent mention 

 of them in old " Household Books." See Bewick's 

 description of the nets used for taking them, and 

 the price paid for them in 1794. Montagu also, in 

 his " Ornithological Dictionary," has some interest- 

 ing remarks on the "combat" of Ruffs in the pairing 

 season. Five-and-twenty years ago T constantly saw 

 Ruffs and Reeves exposed for sale by the London 

 poulterers in April and May, Now they are very 

 seldom seen, owing, it is believed, to the enforce- 

 ment of the law for the protection of birds in the 

 breeding season both in this country and in Holland, 

 whence they were imported. 



The weight of a Ruff is 6 oz. ; of a Reeve, 4 oz. 



