— 98 — 



Lengtli about 9 inches. Upper parts grey brown with 

 blackish centres to the scapular feathers ; throat and upper 

 breast streaked with brown and washed with huffish brown ; 

 rest of under parts white ; bill about 2 inches and strongly 

 wpcurved. 



388. Ruff. Machetes pugnax (Linnaeus). 



Machetes pugnax. Shelley, pp. 246-247. 



Extremely abundant in suitable localities during the spring 

 migration. Less abundant in autumn, and a few remain 

 throughout the winter. 



Few males apparently remain late enough in spring to 

 assume their ruffs, though I have seen full plumaged birds near 

 the Suez Canal (1906) and at Bilbeis (1912). 



Length, male, about 12 inches. Li winter the upper parts 

 are ashy brown, the lower parts white speckled on the throat 

 and upper breast with brownish grey. In summer plumage 

 two earlike tufts and a shield-like collar are assumed, in colour 

 extremely variable, from pure white to orange or black, and 

 often white barred with black. The upper parts are then 

 mottled with reddish, brown, black or grey, or a mixture of all 

 four. The bill is about 1^ inches in length. The female is 

 smaller, and in summer plumage lacks the ear tufts and " ruff." 



389. Sandpiper. Totanus hypoleucus (Linnaeus). 



Actitis hypoleucos. Shelley, p. 259. 



Fairly numerous on ponds and the shores of lakes through- 

 out the country during both migrations, and a considerable 

 number winter in the country. 



Length about 7 inches. Upper parts olive brown with 

 greenish reflections. In winter the upper 23arts are unspotted, 

 but in summer plumage there are small black spots and bars on 

 the feathers and the gloss is more purple ; throat and upper 

 breast streaked with brown ; rest of under parts white ; tail 

 white, barred with black. 



390. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochrojous (Linnaeus). 



Totanus ochrofus. Shelley, p. 258. 



Very abundant in suitable places throughout the country 

 from autumn to spring. 



Length about 9 inches. Upper parts blackish ; in winter 

 slightly and in summer more markedly spotted with dull whitish ; 



