450 A lexander Goodman More Scientific Papers. 



PHILOMACHUS PUGNAX (G. R. Gray}. Ruff. 



Provinces [I. ?] IV. VIII. [X.] XI. 



Subprovinces (3 ?), (10), 11, (12), 19, (22 ?), (23), 24. 



Lat. 51 or 52-56. " Germanic " type. Not in Ireland. 



Like the former, this bird is rapidly disappearing before the advance 

 of cultivation and drainage. 



Montagu was informed that Ruffs were not uncommon in the fens 

 about Bridgewater, in Somersetshire, before they were drained. In 

 Suffolk the bird appears to have become quite extinct ; but Mr. 

 Stevenson says that a few pairs still breed in eastern Norfolk, where, 

 happily, they are strictly preserved. It is extinct in Huntingdon, 

 Cambridge, and Northampton, and probably also in Lincolnshire. In 

 Yorkshire the Ruff appears to have ceased to breed, though Mr. Reid 

 remembered them to have been quite plentiful. Mr. Hancock and the 

 Rev. H. B. Tristram tell me that the bird has become extinct in Dur- 

 ham, but still breeds occasionally in Northumberland. 



SCOLOPAX RUSTICOLA (Linn.}. Woodcock. 



Provinces I.-V. VIII.-XVII. 



Subprovinces 2-15, 19-26, 27, 28, 29-35. 

 Lat. 50-59. " Scottish" type, or northern. 



The nest of the Woodcock is by no means so rare as is generally 

 supposed. The bird is reported as breeding occasionally in nearly 

 every county throughout England and the south of Scotland. Further 

 north it becomes more numerous, and may be considered to breed 

 regularly from Perthshire northwards to Caithness. There is no doubt 

 that many more birds remain to breed now than formerly ; and this 

 increase appears to be owing to the great extent of country which has 

 been covered with plantations during the past few years. 



GALLINAGO MEDIA (Leach]. Common Snipe. 



Provinces I.-V. VIII.-XVIII. 



Subprovinces i, 2-5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10-13, 14, 15, 20-38. 



Lat. 50-61. " British " type, or general. 



Far more numerous in the north during summer ; but the Snipe is 

 described as breeding regularly in most counties, even in the south of 

 England, wherever there are suitable localities. As with the Wood- 

 cock, I have no authority for its breeding in Wales, though in all 

 probability both birds will be found to do so. 



Obs. A few instances are on record in which the Jack Snipe 

 (Gallinago gallinula) has been seen in England during the summer 

 months ; hitherto there appears to be no good authority for believing 

 that the nest has ever been found in this island. 



