Mr. H. Durnford on North-Frisian Ornithology. 399 



sometimes lined with a few fragments of shelly but is often 

 nothing more than a mere hollow. Near Husum we frequently 

 observed it feeding on the mudbanks of the creek. 



Tringoides hypoleucus. 



Two or three pairs observed near Husum, close to pools, 

 on the extensive heaths. 



ToTANus cALiDRis. Frisice " Tutti." 



Common on Sylt, Amrum, Fohr, and Nordstrand, wherever 

 there was sufficient cover for the nest, which we always found 

 well concealed. A few on Sudfall ; common on the mainland. 



Machetes pugnax. 



Common on Sylt, Amrum, and Fohr, having its nest on a 

 tussock in the wettest places. We obser\^ed some noble bat- 

 tles amongst the Ruffs, who, unless fighting, stand bolt up- 

 right, like Owls. When engaged in combat they stoop and 

 charge like Gamecocks. The Reeves are silent except when 

 they have young, then they will fly slowly round one, with a 

 low guttural note. On Fohr we observed one which, from its 

 anxiety, betrayed the fact of its having young. We retired 

 behind the sea-wall, glasses in hand; and after waiting a 

 few minutes, three young ones ran out from the grass, and 

 then a fourth. Leaving my brother to watch, I jumped up 

 and ran to catch them. They all scuttled away ; and I could 

 only secure one, the others escaping in the long grass. How- 

 ever, we again retired to watch behind the bank, and had not 

 been there half a minute before they ran out again and began 

 to feed vrith their mother. I merely mention this incident 

 to show their bold and fearless nature. We did not observe 

 this species on the mainland. 



NUMENIUS PHiEOPUS. 



We saw several feeding on the ooze on the shore of Sylt, 

 and one rose from some heather on the sandhills at the north 

 end of the island, but we could find no nest. We observed a 

 few on the coast near Husum. 



NUMENIUS ARQUATA. 



A few feeding on the ooze on the east coast of Sylt. 



