236 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



Feilderij naturalist to H.M.S. "^ Alert/' found ten on Sabine 

 Island, in Smith's Sound. 



A nest found by the last-named naturalist was placed on 

 a gravel ridge, a hundred feet above the sea, in a slight 

 depression in the centre of a recumbent plant of willow ; 

 the lining consisted of a few withered leaves and some of 

 the last year's catkins. Another, found on Anderson 

 River, was composed of hay and decayed leaves (see Yarrell, 

 vol. iii. p. 23). 



RUFF. 



Machetes pugnax. 



The Ruff cannot be called common in Sussex, and all which 

 have been met with have been in winter plumage. It may 

 now be considered as an accidental visitor, though it 

 formerly bred in Pevensey Levels till it was banished by 

 the extensive drainage. Numbers were formerly found in 

 the fens of Cambridge and Lincolnshire, and on Romney 

 Marsh, in Kent, whence the eggs were given me many 

 years ago. 



In the breeding-season the males assemble at " lekking " 

 places, locally called " hills," like the Black Grouse and 

 Capercallie, and fight desperately for the females. 



The nest is generally placed on a tussock in the wettest 

 part of a swamp. The food consists of insects, larvae, 

 worms, and, occasionally, of certain seeds, and its note is a 

 low " Kack-Kick-Kack." 



The late Mr. Knox records (O. R., p. 234) a curious 

 capture of a Ruff, in a clap-net, near Hove, being apparently 

 attracted by a Lark wliich was used as a call-bird. I see. 



