294 PRiECOCIAL GRALLATORES — LIMICOL^. 



At this time the feathers of the neck are greatly elongated, forming a kind of cape or ruflf, and the 

 face is beset with papillae. 



The Ruff is about the size of the Bartrani's Tattler or Field Plover, which it otherwise resem- 

 bles somewhat in color. It has the same mottling of the inner webs of primaries as in Tryncjites 

 rufescens, though not to so great an extent, this feature not being found in any other North 

 American Totanece, though seen in Limosa fedoa. 



The well-known linff of Europe claims a place in the North American fauna as a 

 not infrequent straggler within our limits. Several specimens have been from time 

 to time killed on Long Island. More recently other examples have been taken at 

 Grand Menan, all of which were in their Avinter plumage. Tavo have been taken in 

 Massachusetts, and others in various portions of Xew England. In one instance Mr. 

 William Brewster procured a fine specimen near NcAvburyport, May 20, 1871 ; it was 

 a female, with her ovaries so far developed as to render it evident that she would 

 have been ready to deposit her eggs within at least two or three Aveeks. 



The most marked peculiarity of this species is the annual appearance of a ruff-like 

 groAvth of feathers about the neck of the male, from which the bird derives its trivial 

 name. The males, too, differ remarkably in their color — an unusual circumstance 

 among wild birds — and are polygamous. They are also much larger than the 

 females. 



This species has an extended distribution, being found at certain seasons through- 

 out Europe, Northern Africa, and in Western Asia. It is only a migrant in Great 

 Britain, making its appearance in April and leaving in the autumn. In Scandinavia 

 the Ruff appears in great numbers on the coast of Scona at the end of April or the 

 beginning of May. It is not known to breed in the southern parts of Scandinavia, 

 although it does abundantly in Denmark. It reaches Lapland the last week in 

 May, where it frequents, on its first coming, the margins of the lakes and rivers. As 

 soon as the grass has grown u}), it hides in the extensive and grassy morasses, where 

 it can rarely be forced to show itself on the Aving. The old birds migrate south in 

 July, the young lingering until August ; by the loth they haA^e all disappeared. 



This species goes as far north as Iceland, visits Russia and Siberia in the summer, 

 and the countries south in their migrations, at which times only are they seen in 

 France, Switzerland, Italy, etc. In a fcAv exceptional cases a pair has occasionally 

 been knoAvn to breed in SAvitzerland. Individuals have also been taken at Malta, at 

 Tunis, Trebizond, in the country about the Caucasus, in Northwestern India, in Nepal, 

 near Calcutta, and throughout Lower Bengal. 



Until Avithin comparatively fcAV years the capture of the living birds of this species 

 in England, and the fattening of them for the London market, has been systematically 

 practised by certain persons. Montagu mentions a noted feeder at Spalding Avhose 

 family had been in this trade more than a century, and Avho, at the time that author 

 visited him, had eighty-four males and a dozen females in confinement. Of the 

 former there were not two alike. These birds Avill feed greedily, the moment they 

 .are taken, on bread and milk or boiled Avheat. The males are very pugnacious, and 

 contend for their food Avith so much obstinacy that they will not eat unless there are 

 several dishes before them. Their actions in fighting are said to be something like 

 those of a game cock. Although they present a very ferocious appearance Avhen 

 fighting, yet they rarely injure one another. 



In the spring the Ruffs assemble on a rising spot of ground, Avhere they contend 

 for the females. Advantage is taken of this by the fowler to capture them alive by 

 means of Avhat is knoAvn as a clap-net. 



