OF NOBTErUMBEBIANP 4^1) DXmHAM. 119 



collection of Mr. C. M. Adamson were shot in tlie neighbourliood 

 of Newcastle; one, in snmmer plumage, on tlie 25tli of May, 

 1843, the other, a young bird, on the 11th of September, 1844, 



112. MACHETES, G. Cuvier. 



28. Rtiff. M. pugnax, (Zinneeus.) 



Tringa pugnax, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, II., 87. 

 Machetes „ Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, II., 645. 



The Ruff is a rare spring-and-autumn migrant. Before Prest- 

 wick Car was drained this beautiful species was not by any means 

 uncommon there in autumn ; and occasionally appeared in large 

 numbers. I have noted five captures of it in that locality, all in 

 summer dress, namely, two males and three females; and I took, 

 on the 3rd of June, 1853, a nest with the full complement of 

 eggs. I am informed by Mr. C. M. Adamson that another nest 

 occurred in the same locality. 



The adult winter plumage is rarely met with in the district. 

 I have only a single individual in this dress captured here, and 

 I am indebted to Mr. C. M. Adamson for it; it was shot at 

 Hauxley, in the winter of 18 7-. The young, in the fii'st plum- 

 age, have been frequently killed on the IsTewcastle Town Moor, 

 and on the ISTorthumberland coast. 



Mr. Selby says in his catalogue that he had " killed several of 

 the young birds and an adult in winter plumage, on the shore near 

 Budle Bay and the slake or ooze iaterposed between the main- 

 land and Holy Island, about the end of September or beginning 

 of October." It has been observed at Boldon Plats, and in May, 

 1859, I saw, at Gosforth Lake, a pair of adult birds, male and 

 female ; the former had a white ruff. 



The Red-legged Sandpiper {Tringa Beicichii, Montagu,) figured 

 and described by Bewick, is undoubtedly an adult Ruff, without 

 the collar of feathers. I have a male specimen, shot at Prest- 

 wick Car, on the 18th of April, without a trace of the ruff; and 

 in other respects agreeing with the figure and description of 

 Bewick's Tringa, or Red-legged Sandpiper, 



