494 SANDPIPERS AND RELATED SPECIES 



more selected birds in turn. Another remarkable feature is the large 

 amount of unisexual pairing which takes place, principally among the 

 ruffs, but also to some extent among the reeves as well. 



As the ruffs continue to haunt the hills during the time of in- 

 cubation, and even when the young are being reared, it is obvious 

 that they take little if any part in either incubation or rearing of the 

 young. The nests are never to be found close to a hill, but always 

 some little distance away from it not less than a hundred paces 

 according to Naumann. They are well hidden in the thick grass, and 

 if it were not for the fact that the reeve sits close and flies direct from 

 the eggs, would rarely be found. Mr. W. H. St. Quintin has been 

 successful in rearing the young in captivity, and noticed that they left 

 the nest immediately after being hatched. They could then be seen 

 by patient watching, especially in the evenings, " climbing about the 

 tussocks and bunches of grass, often several inches off the ground, 

 picking off flies and minute insects, while the parent kept guard, 

 driving off any other bird that came too near, including the ruff, who 

 met with no more consideration than the others," as indeed might 

 have been expected. There seems to be no doubt that in this case 

 the young lived entirely on what they managed to pick up for them- 

 selves, and received no help from the reeve. They were hatched on 

 June 25th and could fly on July 15th, after which time they ceased to 

 squat in the grass and began to run away when disturbed, taking no 

 pains to hide themselves. 1 



Few birds are more silent than this species. Until the young are 

 hatched one may see these birds daily, and watch them for hours with- 

 out hearing a single note from them. Naumann states that at night, 

 at migration time, they utter a note which he writes as "kack, kack, kick, 

 kack " ; and the late H. A. Macpherson, a very careful observer, speaks 

 of its " loud shrill whistle " as heard in the Sol way marshes, and says 

 it may occasionally be heard at a considerable distance. The only 

 note I have ever heard is the low quacking or guttural note which the 



1 W. H. St. Quintin, Avicultural Magazine, vol. i. (New Series) p. 400. 



