KUFF. 



MACHETES PUGNAX [Unn.). 



Tringa pugnax, Linn. S. N. i. p. 247 (1766). 



Machetes pugnax^ Naum. vii. p, 502; Macg. \v. p. 171; 



Hewitson, ii. p. 345 ; Yarr. ed. 4), iii. p. 426 ; Dresser, 



viii. p. 87. 



Comhattant, French ; Kampf-Hahn, German ; Combati- 

 ente, Spanish. 



This singular bird is one of the many species that 

 have been driven from their former breeding-places in 

 England by the draining and reclamation of the marshes 

 and fen-lands in vrhich they were at one time abundant ; 

 a very few pairs of Ruff's and Reeves, however, still nest 

 occasionally in East Norfolk, but, owing to the greed of 

 collectors, and lax administration of the law, are seldom 

 allowed to rear, or even to hatch out their broods, 

 and our birds are now principally known as autumnal 

 visitors to the sea-coast and adjacent meadow-lands, 

 stray birds being occasionally met with inland at con- 

 siderable distances from salt water. 



The Ruff is polygamous, and consequently most pug- 

 nacious, but, as far as I have been able to observe, 



