igS 



The Irish Naturalist. 



[August, 



It may be seen from the foregoing measurements that in both 

 the male and the female the wing is the same length, viz., 6j 

 inches. Hence the first flight feathers are the same length 

 in the two sexes ; but the expanse of wings (length from the 

 tip of one extended wing to that of the other) is greater in 

 the male than in the female. This, therefore, must be due 

 to the upper and fore wing being longer in the male. This I 

 found to be true, as the humerus, ulna, and radius of the latter 

 are longer than those of the former. 



The body of the female is smaller proportion atel}^ than that 

 of the male, but much of the same shape, as shown b}^ the 

 relative measurements. The same remarks apply to the legs. 

 The bill, however, is much the same length in both sexes ; 

 moreover, it is very constant in length, in that respect 

 differing from many waders (Dunlin, Sanderling, Curlew. 

 &c.), in which the length of the bill, even of the same sex, is 

 very variable. It should be noted, however, that the base of 

 the bill of the male Ruff is stouter than that of the female. 



The colour of the legs and toes var}^, not only according to 

 sex, but also at different seasons of the year, as follows : — 



■* Male (immature), 

 Female, ,, 

 Male (nuptial plumage), 

 Female (summer), 

 Male (adult, winter), . 

 Female, „ 



Colour of legs aud toes. 

 Dark greenish black. 

 Dark brown. 

 Dull orange. 



Same colour, but a little paler. 

 Light brown. 



jj 



Difference in weight between the two sexes : — With a variation 

 in size between the two sexes we expect a variation in weight. 

 The average-sized male weighs 6 ounces ; the female 4 

 ounces. Most writers agree on this point, and judging from 

 the specimens which I weighed mj^self, I find that I have 

 arrived at a similar rCvSult. 



Extreme sexual differences in size a7id ivcioht : — The female 

 Ruff, shot on Balbriggan Strand on 3rd October (Irish Nat., 

 vol. viii., p. 225), was very small, and all measurements were 



■" Mr. Williams pointed out to me the difference in colour between the 

 immature male and female legs on the specimens which he shot on 28th 

 August, 1897. In these pair the colours were well marked. 



