

RUFF. 113 



TOTANUS PIIGNAX. 



RUFF. 



(PLATE 29.) 



Tringa totamis cinereus, Brigs. Orn. v. p. 203 (1700). 



Tringa 'pugnax, Briss. Oni. \. p. 240 (1700) ; Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 247 (1700); et 

 auctorum plurimorum (Naumanri), (Temminck), (Dresser}, (Sounders), &c. 



Tringa littorea, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 251 (1760). 



Tringa grenovicensis, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supjyl. i. p. 293 (1787). 



Pavoncella pugnax (Linn.), Leach, Syst. Cat. Mamm. fyc. Brit. Mus. p. 29 (1810). 



Totanus pugnax (Linn.), Niks. Orn. Suec. ii. p. 71 (1817). 



Machetes pugnax (Linn.), Cuv. Reg. An. i. p. 490 (1817). 



Totanus mdica \ Q /ff ^ ^ .. , g2 fi , 2 / 1884 x 



Limosa bardwickii, ) 



Philomachus pugnax (Linn.), Gray, List Gen. B. p. 89 (1841). 



Machetes optatus, Hodgs. Gray's Zool. Miscell. p. 80 (1844). 



The Ruff is a rare summer migrant to the British Islands, a few pairs 

 still occasionally breeding in the Norfolk broads ; but it is more abundant 

 on spring and autumn migration. Formerly it bred in great numbers 

 in most of the marshy districts of England, from Northumberland south- 

 wards. In Scotland and Ireland it occurs regularly on migration, and it 

 is occasionally seen on the Orkney and Shetland Islands. 



The Ruff is a west Palsearctic species, breeding as far north as land 

 extends, as far south as the valley of the Danube and the Kirghiz Steppes, 

 and as far east as the Taimur peninsula and West Dauria, where it reaches 

 to and probably breeds in the upper valley of the Amoor. It passes 

 through the basins of the Mediterranean, Black, Caspian, and Aral seas 

 on migration, and winters in suitable localities through Africa, Northern 

 India, and Burma. Like many other Waders, it occasionally straggles 

 far and wide during winter. A single example has occurred in Ceylon, 

 and another on the north island of Japan, whilst others have been obtained 

 in the United States of America (Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and 

 Ohio) and in Spanish Guiana. Pallas says that it was not rare in 

 Kamtschatka, but subsequent travellers have failed to meet with it. 

 The Ruff has no near ally. 



The Ruff reaches its breeding-grounds somewhat late in spring. Nau- 

 mann says that in Germany the males arrive during the first half of May, 

 and the females during the second half of that month; that the males 

 leave in August, but the females and young not until September. At 

 Valconswaard I saw the first flock of males on the 13th of May; but we 

 took three nests on the 20th and 21st, one of them a full clutch, so that 



VOL. III. I 



