312 Mr. A. C. Chapman on the 



While searching for Godwits' nests on May 13th, we 

 flushed a Spotted Crake [Porzana maruetta) from her nest 

 and ten eggs, situated in a dangerously soft part of the marsh. 

 She had selected a thickish tuft of grass and flags wherein 

 to construct a very neatly formed nest of bits of flags ; the 

 structure lacked any coherence, though as deep and cup- 

 shaped as that of a Thrush. We never heard these birds 

 utter a note, nor, excepting Land-Rails {Crex pratensis), did 

 we happen to meet with any of the other Crakes. Pairs of 

 Shovellers {Spatula clypeata) frequented these marshes, and 

 on May 12th our dog flushed an old duck from her nest and 

 ten fresh eggs in a very soft part of the bog. We had to lay 

 down oars and otherwise arrange a foundation for our feet 

 before we could reach this nest. Mallards [Anas boscas) 

 were also distributed sparsely over the marshes, and we were 

 easily able to identify a male Garganey {Querquedula circia) , 

 though we were unable to find the nest of the latter species, 

 A Marsh- Harrier [Circus aruginosus) was generally floating 

 about within sight, a pleasing spectacle amongst so many 

 aquatic fowl. 



Rufts and Reeves (Machetes pugnax) were very common, 

 but on these marshes they had not commenced to lay up 

 to May 18th ; this was rather singular, as in another and 

 diff'erent type of district hereinafter described, only 15 miles 

 ofl', some nests had the full complement of four eggs on 

 May loth. The Rufl^s, according to their well-known habit, 

 had selected certain " hills " on which to conduct their 

 amorous conflicts, and it was with the greatest interest that we 

 watched these singular birds, in congregations of from 6 or 8 

 to 20 or 30, beating their flanks with their wings and other- 

 wise performing the strangest antics. Often a pair of Ruffs 

 would, with rufl" and ear-tufts erect, stand facing each other 

 for minutes together, their heads lowered and their bills 

 nearly touching each other j then one would spring into the 

 air and make a desperate rush at his retiring adversary, their 

 aptitude for running over the ground at a marvellous speed 

 being most extraordinary. Very frequently no Reeve was 

 present during these exhibitions, and the persistency with 



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