THE RUFF AND REEVE 



Description. 



bol sandpipers, many of which have been seen 

 as large as pigeons. 



The sandpiper of England weighs about two 

 ounces ; it has a brown head, streaked with 

 black, the back and coverts, brown, mixed with 

 a glossy green, and the breast and belly quite 

 white. The bill is straight and slender, about an 

 inch and a half long; the nostrils small, and the 

 tongue slender. The toes are divided or slightly 

 connected at the base by a membrane; the 

 hinder toe is short and weak. 



The whole of this tribe have a shrill pipe, or 

 whistle, from which they derive their name, and 

 which they constantly make use of. 



THE RUFF AND REEVE. 



THE ruff, which is of the sandpiper tribe, is 

 about a foot in length, with a bill of about an 

 inch. The face is covered with yellow pimples; 

 and the back part of the head and neck are fur- 

 nished with long feathers, standing out some- 

 what like the ruff worn by our ancestors ; a few 

 of these feathers stand up over each eye, and 

 appear not unlike ears. The colours of the ruffs 

 are in no two birds alike : in general they are 

 brownish, and barred with black ; though some 

 have been seen that were altogether white. The 

 lower parts of the belly an^ the tail coverts are 



VOL. iv. NO. 26. u 



