246 



BIRDS OF EGYPT. 



Waders ; but on the 



from them. I 



g it keeps separate 

 have rarely been to Sakkara without meeting with this bird 

 on some of the larger pools, where, as they often retui'n 

 to the same spot and are not more shy than Redshanks, they 

 may easily be obtained. 



Winter plumage. — Upper parts hair-brown, lightest on the 

 head and back of the neck, and darkest towards the rump ; 

 the latter as well as the upper tail-coverts white, with the 

 ends of the latter black ; tail brownish black, with white bases 

 to the feathers increasing in breadth towards the outer ones ; 

 quills dark brown, with some white only on the inner web of 

 the first four, the remainder of the quills having a broad 

 white base ; underparts white, washed on the neck and crop 

 with ashy brown ; beak brownish flesh-colour, shading into 

 black towards the tip ; legs dusky black; irides dark brown. 



Entire length 19 inches; culmen 4"S ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 8'8 ; tarsus 3" 5. 



In summer the breast and throat become ferruginous 

 brown, and the upper parts are mottled with that colour and 

 black. 



Fig. Sharpe and Dresser, B. of Eur. part xiii. 



248. Machetes pugnax (Linn.). Ruff. 



The Ruif is very abundant throughout Egypt and Nubia 

 from August till May, more especially in the Fayoom and the 

 Delta, where it may generally be met with in large flocks, 

 frequenting the flooded fields in preference to the marshes. 



Male in loinlcr plumage. — Upper parts hair-brown, the 

 centre of the feathers darker ; tail-coverts white, excepting a 



