The Zoologist — September, 1867. 901 



Rnff. — I believe that the ruff and reeve visit our coasts every 

 season in autumn in small numbers. Two I have taken notice of in 

 the « Zoologist' (Zool. 9118 and S. S. 524). The latter was killed in 

 my presence by Mr. J. H. Belfrage, from the same sand-bank where he 

 formerly killed the two oystercatchers : this was in September, so of 

 course it was minus the ruff: it was a very small specimen, and struck 

 us both at the time as resembling a much rarer bird, viz. the buff- 

 breasted sandpiper. 



Woodcock. — The woodcock breeds regularly with us now, in the 

 most suitable localities. The first nest I ever found was on the 25th 

 of April, in Daleswood: it was placed at the root of a tree (a larch or 

 oak, I forget which), in a bare place among heather; the young were 

 far advanced, and notwithstanding every care 1 broke one in blowing; 

 the other three I managed tolerably well considering, or rather my 

 birdstuffer did, as I took them into Edinburgh, not having a full set of 

 instruments at the time (Zool. S. S. 71). Ever since that year (1861) 

 1 have known them to breed either in Torwood, Daleswood, or our own 

 grounds, as also elsewhere. 



Common Snipe. — Breeds in most suitable localities among the 

 hills, at Loch Coulter among others, where I have found the nest. I 

 have seen upwards of sixty snipe rise from the salt-marshes at the sea 

 in one day ; and one day, three years ago, I killed six couple of 

 snipe in a marsh belonging to the Can-on Company called Lamond's 

 Bog. 



Jack Snipe. — Not plentiful, but arrives every year in the marshes, 

 about, I think, the second week in October. They may often be found 

 in frozen places where it would be useless to search for its " big 

 brother." 



Great Snipe. — "Last December (1866)," writes Captain A. G. 

 Spiers, " a very rare bird was shot here (Culcreuch), the solitary snipe. 

 I have had it set up and it looks well in its glass-case." This is 

 indeed a rare bird, and Mr. R. Gray tells me it has seldom been 

 obtained north of the Tweed. My friend, Mr. J. G. K. Young, of 

 Glendowne, in Ayrshire, told me that he once put up and fired at a 

 bird on that property which he felt almost certain was a great 

 snipe. 



Knot. — In flocks along the mud-flats in winter. Large phalanges 

 of them fly past, offering capital " pot" shots. Our keeper succeeded, 

 one day we were down at the coast, in knocking over six with one 

 barrel. I have found them quite equal to golden plover on the table. 



