RUFF. 699 



not known to breed in the southern parts of Scandinavia, 

 although it breeds abundantly in Denmark, from whence 

 I have had the eggs. It arrives in Lapland the last week 

 in May, and frequents, on its first coming, the shores of 

 the lakes and rivers ; as soon, however, as the swamps are 

 thawed, and the grass begins to spring up, which is simul- 

 taneous in Lapland, it conceals itself in the extensive and 

 grassy morasses, is seldom seen on the wing, and is not 

 flushed without some difficulty, flying only a few yards, 

 but generally getting up out of shot. At Killingsuvanda, 

 Gellivara, and Juckasiervi, they were common. They 

 migrate south ; the old birds by the end of July, and the 

 young in August. After the loth of August, almost all the 

 waders disappear from Lapland. They are very fat during 

 the summer." They are known to go as far north as 

 Iceland ; they also visit Russia, Siberia, and the countries 

 to the southward. In France, Provence, Switzerland, 

 Italy, and some of the islands of the Mediterranean, these 

 birds are only seen during their spring and autumn migra- 

 tion ; a pair occasionally remaining to breed in Switzer- 

 land, as mentioned by Professor Schinz in his Fauna 

 Helvetica, published in 1837. My friend Dr. Calvert 

 gave me a Reeve that was shot at Malta in the com- 

 mencement of spring. The Zoological Society have re- 

 ceived specimens sent by Sir Thomas Reade, from Tunis, 

 and others sent by Keith Abbott, Esq., from Trebizond. 

 M. Menetries found this species in the countries about the 

 Caucasus. 



This species has been found in North-western India, in 

 Nepal, and in the vicinity of Calcutta ; but Mr. Blyth 

 observes that the males leave Lower Bengal before the 

 ruff is put forth. 



The Ruff, in his breeding plumage, from which the en- 

 graved figure was taken, has the beak one inch and a half 



