1924. ]\IoFFAT — Xotes on Some Ruffs in the Zoo. 27 



by his rival to be physically the superior bird. It also 

 seemed to suggest that, in some respect that was perceptible 

 to the birds, though not to me, the territory monopolized 

 by the black Ruff was a more desirable vantage-ground 

 than the quarter occupied by the red. 



The masterfulness of the black Ruff was asserted just 

 as strongly over both his wives as it was over his unwelcome 

 visitor. I have mentioned that he never allov/ed the 

 Reeves to leave his area except when he himself v.-ent out 

 to feed. The Reeves did not entirely appreciate these 

 restrictions on their freedom. It was not unusual to see 

 one of them make a start to leave the little parterre ; but 

 the master of the harem was alwavs on the watch, and 

 showed a wonderful address in preventing the lady's escape. 

 He would run rapid circles round his area, stretching out 

 his frill to its utmost extent so as completely to outflank 

 the run-aw^ay Reeve till she gave up the attempt as useless. 

 (The use of the frill as a driving-bush on these occasions 

 struck me, I must confess, as throwing unexpected light 

 on the utility of that celebrated nuptial ornament). It 

 is to be feared, however, that Reeves in a wild state would 

 maintain an easy independence of such tactics as these by 

 the use of their wings. 



This interesting state of things — which may have been 

 in existence for several vv'eeks before I first noticed it — 

 lasted throughout the third week of ^lay ; but towards 

 the end of the fourth week of that month a revolution 

 occurred in the enclosurs. The red Ruff, hitherto the 

 unhappy outcast, was transformed into the master bird. 

 He took possession of the quarter that had hitherto been 

 the black Ruff's, leaving the black Ruff no option but to 

 retreat into the opposite comer, the old residence of the 

 red-frilled bird. I need hardly say that the two Reeves 

 formed part of the exchanged property. The red-frilled 

 Ruff now had their compan}^ as completely to himself as 

 it had formerly been his rival's. 



The cause of the change I cannot \\'ith any certainty 

 state. My conjecture is that the black Ruff had assumed 

 his " show " a little earlier than the red, and was beginning 

 to moult it while the red bird was still in his fullest vigour. 



