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events were fresh in my memory, are given in diary form, and 

 may prove interesting being the impressions of what occurred as 

 recorded on the spot : 



May loth. — Went with M. to the marshes, where we met C. 

 The ruff had been observed "courting." C. had found the nest 

 of No. 1 reeve (as we termed it), about the centre of the marsh, 

 containing four eggs of a dark green ground colour, blotched and 

 streaked with black ; a lovely clutch. On our proceeding to the 

 place the reeve ran off the eggs, which were quite warm. The 

 nest was situated in a tussock of grass, not unlike the position 

 chosen by a redshank, but the cup-shaped depression was deeper 

 aud rather greater in diameter than that usually made by the 

 latter species. 



May 17th. — Visited the marsh again, and, on my approaching 

 the nest, the ruff appeared on a little hillock, where I watched 

 him through a pair of binoculars for some minutes. He had a 

 yellowish frill with dark edges, and black or purplish ear-tufts ; 

 he ran away for a few yards, then hid in the grass, and after a 

 short interval, reappeared in another place, repeating this 

 performance several times. I walked to the nest and flushed the 

 female at about 6ft. distance ; she tumbled headlong on the 

 ground, and shuffled along on her breast as though severely 

 wounded and in great distress, her feathers all dishevelled and 

 wings drooping, a truly pitiable object ; after dragging herself in 

 this fashion for a few yards, she lay perfectly still, apparently 

 simulating death ; next she quietly crept away round a tuft of 

 grass, and slying peeped back to see what had become of the 

 intruder on her peace (I was prone on the ground, watching her 

 through the glasses ) ; she then lay still again for a little time, 

 and finally, no doubt thinking all was right, stole off among some 

 long grass and tussocks, where she disappeared. The ruff now 

 made his appearance on a slight elevation, whence he flew up and 

 around where I was concealed, as though he wanted to assure 

 himself that no harm was being done to the treasures hidden 

 near. He came directly towards the nest, and alighted close by, 

 put back his ruff, and, after looking round for a few moments, 

 rose and flew off again. I then, after examining the eggs, that 

 were hot and near hatching, walked away out of sight of the nest 

 and awaited developments. Once or twice I saw the ruff's head 

 pop up among the grass, then disappear, and shortly afterwards 

 reappear at another spot. After waiting half an hour I flushed 

 the reeve again (the ruff was still hovering about). She repeated 



