228 BIRDS OF LANCASHIRE. 



many of this sort of birds flying in company." It is 

 not, however, so common on the Mersey and Kibble as 

 in the locahties before mentioned, where it gets its local 

 name through such large quantities keeping so close 

 together. It is rarely that birds are taken with any 

 remnant of the brilliant colours of the summer plumage, 

 but Dr. Kershaw of Middleton has a specimen — shot at 

 Southport in September, 1883, and which he saw in 

 the flesh — with a decidedly red breast. Inland it is very 

 occasional. 



GENUS MACHETES. 



KUFF. 



Machetes pugnax (Linnreus). 



A spring and autumn migrant, occurring regularly in 

 small numbers, but now being much more uncommon 

 than some twenty or thirty years ago. It used then to be 

 taken in large quantities on the Eibble (see p. 171), and 

 although Pennant ("Brit. ZooL," 1776-77) says that, 

 visiting Martin Mere the latter end of March or be- 

 ginning of April, it did not continue there above three 

 weeks, there appears little doubt he was in error, and that 

 it remained to breed. Mr. E. J. Howard states {ZooL, 

 1884, p. 466) that there are mere-men still living who 

 can remember the birds remaining all the summer, have 

 seen them assume and throw off the "ruff,'' and have 

 often watched them at the "hill" ; while he has two 

 males in full breeding-plumage, which were shot on 

 Martin Mere about 1840, and near the same time a 

 young bird, unable to fly, was caught by William Parker 

 of Crossens. The Piuft" has occurred several times inland 



