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during the first week in March. They were very restless, flying backwards and forward from one 

 pool to another, feeding hurriedly in a close compact body. Their flight is extremely rapid, 

 turning and twisting, showing alternately the light and dark sides in the same manner as 

 Dunlins &c. None of the specimens I shot showed any sign of a ruff; they were all males." 

 In Malta, Mr. Wright says, it " arrives early in spring, and is rather common in March and 

 April. I have seen it rarely as early as February. Repasses towards the end of September, 

 October, and November. Individuals in the full nuptial dress have been taken ; but they are 

 very uncommon." Lord Lilford informs me that he found it common in Epirus on the spring 

 passage ; and it is said to be generally distributed throughout Greece during the seasons of 

 migration, but has not been known to breed there. It is found throughout Southern Germany 

 on passage ; and Dr. Fritsch states that it is said to breed in some parts of Bohemia. It is found 

 in Southern Russia, Turkey, and Asia Minor, and doubtless also in Palestine on passage, though 

 it is not included by Canon Tristram ; and Lord Lilford informs me that he met with it in Crete 

 in March, and in Cyprus in April. 



In North-east Africa it is chiefly met with as a winter visitant. Mr. C. W. Wyatt obtained 

 one near Tor, in Sinai ; and Captain Shelley writes (B. of Egypt, p. 246) : — " The Ruff is very- 

 abundant throughout Egypt and Nubia from August till May, more especially in the Fayoom 

 and the Delta, where it may generally be met with in large flocks, frequenting the flooded fields 

 in preference to the marshes." Von Heuglin says that he observed the Ruff at almost all seasons 

 of the year in North-east Africa, and, curiously enough, even during the nesting-season. In 

 April 1862 he observed it south-west of the source of the Gazelle River in flocks; in July and 

 August he shot specimens near the bitter lakes north of Suez. In the autumn, winter, and 

 spring it is very numerous in Egypt, Nubia, Takah, and East Kordofan ; and in Abyssinia it was 

 observed at an altitude of 10,000 feet. It is found throughout Algeria in damp localities, chiefly 

 during the winter ; and in Favier's notes on the ornithology of Tangier, he states {fide Colonel 

 Irby) that " this species is only observed near Tangier when on migration, crossing to Europe 

 during March, returning in July, August, and September. Those which return in the last days 

 of July still exhibit traces of the breeding-plumage." It has been recorded from Madeira by 

 Vernon Harcourt, and on the west side of Africa, from Senegambia, Casamanse, and Benguela. 

 According to Mr. Andersson (B. of Damara Land, p. 304), " This bird generally appears in 

 Damara Land with the return of the rainy season, when it is not uncommon, and leaves again 

 before the ruff of the male bird is put forth ; but I have reason to believe that it is to be met 

 with in the Lake-regions during the intervening period. It is chiefly found inland, and but 

 rarely on the coast. It feeds on insects and worms, for which it seeks in moist and humid 

 situations ; but during the rainy season, when food is abundant, it may be found almost every- 

 where. It is a comparatively tame bird, and is generally to be observed in small flocks of from 

 three to a dozen individuals — such flocks generally consisting of females with perhaps now and 

 then a male, which is easily distinguished by its greater size." Mr. E. L. Layard says (B. of S. 

 Afr. p. 329) that he has shot it on the flats at the Cape of Good Hope, and received it from 

 Colesberg, the Knysna, and Traka in the winter season ; Mr. Ayres has sent it from Natal and 

 the Transvaal ; and Mr. T. E. Buckley observed it in large flocks on his way down through the 

 Transvaal. 



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