66 FAmIlIAR wild BIRDS. 



Norfolk,, and Somersetshire, and many other districts of 

 low-lying*, marshy ground, used to be famous for the 

 numbers that resorted to them ; but the gradual reclama- 

 tion of these places for agricultural purposes has had 

 the effect of thinning their flocks very considerably. 



These birds have been found at various times in almost 

 all the counties of Great Britain, especially at certain 

 periods of the year, and on the sea-coast, mosses, moors, 

 and salt-marshes. The Ruff also is found in Iceland, 

 Russia, Sweden, Lapland, Denmark, Norway, Holland, 

 France, Switzerland, and Italy. In some of these latter 

 countries it is only a temporary visitor. In addition 

 to these countries, it is said to be met with in Asia and 

 the Cape of Good Hope. 



As a rule, the birds arrive on our coasts in April, and 

 take their departure about September. There are, how- 

 ever, many instances recorded o£ their being shot during 

 winter. 



Like the other members of the Sandpiper family, the 

 Ruff feeds upon worms and various aquatic insects. 



One of the most remarkable traits in the character of 

 this odd-looking bird is its extreme pugnacity. In the 

 breeding season this combative disposition has full scope, 

 and the Ruffs quarrel and fight with each other continually. 

 Selby says that " their actions in fighting are very similar 

 to those of a game cock; the head is lowered, and the 

 beak held in a horizontal direction ; the ruff, and, indeed, 

 every feather, more or less distended, the former sweeping 

 the ground as a shield, and the tail partly spread, upon the 

 whole assuming a most ferocious^ aspect.'^ He adds that 

 in these attitudes the birds stand facing each other, and 

 trying to lay hold of their antagonists' feathers with the 



