312 SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 



BARTRAM'S SANDPIPER. 



TOTANUS BARTRAMI. 

 Genus Totanus. 

 Has been obtained some six or seven times in Ireland. 



RUFF. 



TOTANUS PUGNAX. 

 Genus Totanus. 



A spring and autumn visitor. Formerly it bred in 

 large numbers in the marshy districts of England. 

 The females are far more numerous than the males ; 

 they are called " Reeves ". The peculiar feature of 

 the male bird in breeding plumage is the curious 

 feathery ruff which it assumes round its neck. The 

 birds do not pair, one male having many wives ; and 

 there are spots, known as " hills/' to which they repair 

 systematically to fight for the possession of the 

 females. From this habit of constantly repairing to 

 the same " hill " many birds are netted. 



The nest is on the swampy ground, and the eggs, 

 four in number, are greenish grey or stone colour, 

 spotted and blotched with reddish brown and light 

 brown. 



SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 



TOTANUS MACULARIUS. 

 Genus Totanus. 

 A bird of very rare occurrence. 



