LIMICOL^. ( 248 ) SCOLOPACID^. 



THE RUFF. 



Machetes pugnax. 



Of flesh of birds — roast, grilled, or fried ; 

 Of hare or rabbit, woodcock, snipe ; 

 Of partridge, pheasant, plover, wipe,^ 

 Of larks for breakfast, or for supper, 

 ( On these 1 lave to cram a7id stuff). 



There's nothing nicer than a fattened ruff. 



FOLKARD. 



This interesting bird was formerly plentiful in the eastern 

 counties of England, where it bred in great numbers, but, 

 owing to drainage and other causes, it is now rarely seen 

 there in the nesting season. It is, however, observed in 

 small flocks on spring and autumn migration. 



There are very few recorded instances of the occurrence 

 of the Euff in Berwickshire. Mr. Charles Watson, Duns, 

 mentions that a female was shot near Burnmouth in October 

 1873,2 and Dr. Stuart of Chirnside, writing on the 11th of 

 September 1876, says: "Two rare birds made their appear- 

 ance at Edington Mains Mill Pond the other day. Mr. 

 Wilson's groom shot one, but the other escaped. Mr. 

 Wilson sent the bird to Dr. Duns of the New College, 

 Edinburgh, who made it out to be the Keeve, the female 

 of the Ruff. I should also mention that the bird which 

 escaped was a young bird, much lighter in the plumage 

 than the one shot. The Eeeve was observed to be feeding 

 it with insects from the pond." ^ Mr. Andrew Brotherston, 

 bird-stuffer, Kelso, states that, on the 22nd of September 



1 The ancient name of the Lapwing. 



2 Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol. vii. p. 127. ^ Ihid. vol. viii. p. 195. 



