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numbers in the same localities as the Black-tailed Godwit, and in other localities it is only seen 

 on passage. Some seasons the young are very numerous on the autumnal passage. 



In North Germany it occurs almost only on passage in the interior, but breeds commonly on 

 most parts of the coast. It has, however, according to Borggreve, been met with breeding in 

 Anhalt, Posen, and in the Oderbruch, near Schwedt ; Gloger states that it occasionally nests in 

 Silesia; and Von Homeyer writes (J. f. O. 1872, p. 338) that it breeds, far from the coast, in 

 Lausitz and Pomerania. 



It arrives in Denmark late in April, the males arriving rather earlier than the females, and 

 leaves again early in September. It breeds most numerously in Jutland and the west coast of 

 Schleswig, on Kareholm, also in Randersfiord, on Musholm, Omo, Agerso, Moen, Rodsand, on 

 several islands between Fyen and iEro, on Enderlave, Lseso, and in many other localities. 



It breeds in Holland in some numbers, arriving in April and leaving again in August and 

 September. Mr. H. Durnford, in his Notes on North-Frisian ornithology, writes (Ibis, 1874, 

 p. 399) as follows : — " Common on Sylt, Amrum, and Fohr, having its nest on a tussock in the 

 wettest places. We observed some noble battles amongst the Ruffs, who, unless fighting, stand 

 bolt upright, like Owls. When engaged in combat they stoop and charge like Gamecocks. The 

 Reeves are silent except when they have young ; then they will fly slowly round one, with a low 

 guttural note. On Fohr we observed one which, from its anxiety, betrayed the fact of its having 

 young. We retired behind the sea-wall, glasses in hand ; and after waiting a few minutes, three 

 young ones ran out from the grass, and then a fourth. Leaving my brother to watch, I jumped 

 up and ran to catch them. They all scuttled away ; and I could only secure one, the others 

 escaping in the long grass. However, we again retired to watch, behind the bank, and had not 

 been there half a minute before they ran out again and began to feed with their mother. I 

 merely mention this incident to show their bold and fearless nature. We did not observe this 

 species on the mainland." In Belgium the present species is only found on passage, and is 

 chiefly met with in the province of Antwerp, in Campine, and especially on the Meuse ; and in 

 France it is also chiefly seen on passage, but a few breed in the north of that country. It is 

 said to occur in Portugal, and is numerous in some parts of Spain. Lord Lilford writes to me, 

 "it occurs in the spring on the Lower Guadalquivir, and is to be met with commonly in the 

 market of Seville in March. I cannot positively say whether it breeds in the marisma or not; 

 but I have had eggs brought to me from that district which I can hardly assign to any other 

 species." Mr. Howard Saunders says that it is less common in the spring than it is in the 

 autumn; and Colonel Irby writes (Orn. Str. Gibr. p. 171) as follows: — "The greater number of 

 Ruffs pass northward through Andalucia in April ; but flocks occasionally occur during January, 

 February, and March, some passing as late as the last week in May. The males, or ' Ruffs,' are 

 then in their inconvenient-looking nuptial plumage ; and although I have not heard of their 

 nesting so far south, it is not unlikely that such is the case." 



It occurs in Italy on passage, and appears to be also not so uncommon in Sardinia as 

 Salvadori and Cara state, as the latter does not record it, and the former only once met with it 

 there; but Mr. A. B. Brooke writes (Ibis, 1873, p. 339) as follows: — "On the large wide sandy 

 plain dotted over with small stagnant pools, between the stagno of S. Giusta and the sea, I met 

 with numerous flocks of Ruffs, varying in number from three or four up to as many as twenty, 



