2286 The Zoologist — September, 1870. 



I heard the nightingale singing. Although this exquisite songstress 

 occasionally visits the north-western corner of the county, this is the 

 first occasion I have had the pleasure of hearing it in this neighbour- 

 hood. The dry and hot spring may have induced them to extend 

 their range into the bleak north-east corner of Lincolnshire. I am 

 informed on good authority that nightingales have also nightly been 

 heard during the present spring in the Irby-dales woods, also in this 

 district. 



Ruff and Reeves. — June 10. Almost daily lately, when crossing the 

 marshes, I have seen a flock of eight birds fly rapidly past, and 

 although I felt convinced they were a party of reeves, could never get 

 near enough to be certain as to their identity ; clearly they were 

 neither golden plover nor dotterel ; one was larger and darker than the 

 others, and not unlike, when on the wing, a golden plover in summer 

 dress. To-day I found them feeding in our largest marsh pasture, and 

 by riding quietly round the flock, beginning at some distance and 

 gradually contracting the circle, I got near enough to find they were 

 what I suspected, a ruff" and seven reeves, the former in the beautiful 

 nuptial attire. In the afternoon I had the pleasure of again watching 

 them, but this time through my telescope. Compared with either 

 golden plover or dotterel, they are restless unquiet feeders, and are 

 frequently shifting their ground, taking little flights of twenty or thirty 

 yards. Considering the length of the tarsi they are by no means 

 high standing birds, and look less elevated even than the golden 

 plover. The body is carried horizontally, the tibio-tarsal joints being 

 much bent; the head, if anything, inclined downwards. They run 

 rapidly, now and then stopping to pick up some small substance, 

 probably an insect, from the grass, and are often crossing and recrossing 

 each other's tracks, not feeding, like the knot, all in the same direction. 

 The ruff" appears both proud and jealous of his seven wives, following 

 them up closely ; and occasionally, when he thinks they are getting too 

 far away, he takes a short flight towards them. He is most watchful, 

 and ever on the alert, on the slightest appearance of danger invariably 

 takes the initiative, stretching himself to the full extent, and is then a 

 conspicuous and beautiful object, looking nearly twice his natural size, 

 if the alarm is well grounded, he at once rises, his reeves rising with 

 him, and they go off" together at a great pace, silently and in close 

 order, skimming the ground, and sometimes will simultaneously shoot 

 upwards to a higher elevation, and as rapidly, when about to alight, 

 descend. This ruff" was a dark-plumaged variety, showing a considerable 



