I900.J 



Patten. — The Natural Histojy of the Rtiff. 197 



on. At the same time of year the female changes but little 

 from her winter dress (see winter plumage of Ruff, p. 189); she 

 simply becomes more spotted with black, brown, chestnut, 

 and grey. These colours replace many of the more sombre 

 greyish-brown winter feathers of the upper and under parts. 

 I now return to the differences in size between the two sexes. 

 Thanks to the courtesy and kindness of Mr. Williams I have 

 from time to time been able to examine a good number of 

 Ruffs in the flesh. These I have supplemented by an examin- 

 ation of dry skins kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. 

 Carpenter, of the Science and Art Museum. Even in the same 

 sex variation in size is apparent. I found this more so in the 

 females. 



In addition to the ordinary measurements given in text 

 books, such as' the total length of the bird and the length of 

 the wing, I have added some more, with a view of determining 

 more precisely the external sexual differences. 



Out of a large number examined the following are the 

 avera2:e measurements at which I have arrived : — 



I wish to call attention to the fact that I measured the wings 

 from the carpal joint to the end of the first flight feather. 



