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species come only irregularly some seasons passing without any 

 being observed, some appearing only in autumn, others appearing 

 at both seasons ; probably almost all that do come are mere strag- 

 glers from the great flocks spreading themselves over the country 

 in search of food in winter, and again returning to their breeding 

 places the following spring. 



The Ruff formerly bred at suitable places in England abun- 

 dantly, but in consequence of its breeding places having been 

 drained, it is now a very rare bird in most places in England in 

 its summer plumage. The old birds probably leave us before 

 moulting their wing feathers in September. I never saw one 

 killed moulting its quills, and I therefore presume the old birds 

 which breed in England leave so soon as the young can be left 

 to themselves, the males perhaps soon after the females begin to 

 sit ; and the old bird in its winter plumage is very much less 

 frequently met with. In September, some years since, flocks, 

 composed exclusively of young birds of the year, used to come 

 to Prestwick Carr, probably on their way from Sweden, and re- 

 mained two or three weeks. Some years many more came than 

 others. If some of these were killed, then, would that make it 

 probable that a smaller number would come the next year ? or, 

 if none had been killed, would they remain one day longer ? I 

 think it unlikely. This bird occasionally bred there, and a nest 

 was sometimes found when no Ruff in full plumage had been 

 observed that year. I am convinced that birds move about much 

 more than is generally believed. How soon the Garganey and 

 Shoveller leave their breeding ground after the young can fly. 

 I have known several pairs of the latter to breed, but so soon do 

 the young take their departure, that not one has been shot in the 

 neighbourhood between the breeding season and far into winter, 

 and then the probability is that the birds met with have come 

 from a distance. I never remember to have seen a Garganey in 

 the London market amongst the quantities of wildfowl sent there 

 during the autumn or winter, and therefore presume they retire 

 to other countries so soon as the young are able to fly well ; and 

 it seems probable that most of even the commoner species of wild 

 ducks which breed with us leave us in winter, and that their 



