RUFF. 
309 
Gen US — Machetes. 
238. Machetes pugnax, RufT. 
Reeve (Female). 
A winter visitor, rare inland. 
There is no evidence to show that this bird has ever 
nested with us, and it is now principally known as an 
autumn and spring visitor on migration to our coasts, and 
only in small numbers. 
Our oldest record is from Bury, who mentions two 
obtained by Butler in the Isle of Wight in winter, and a 
reeve shot at Newtown in August, 1844. 
Dr. Covvper has seen it once near Luccombe, and Mr. 
Wadham, of Newport, reports a reeve procured in the 
Island on September 13th, 1889. 
Mr. Hart has numerous specimens, including some very 
fine males, from the neighbourhood of Christchurch. There 
is a male bird in winter plumage from King's Pond in the 
Alton Museum, and others were seen at Fleet Pond in 
1877 by Captain Reid. 
Mr. Corbin reports an example from Ringwood in 
September, 1 887 ; others have been recorded from Port- 
chester and Hill Head by Messrs. Stares and Pearce, and 
two reeves were shot out of a flock of five at Hay ling 
Island, on September 5th, 1896 (Templer, "Zoologist," 
October, 1896). 
X 
