132 WADING BIRDS. 



tropical climates. Come from where they may, they appear 

 again in the eastern parts of Great Britain, to which their 

 visits in that kingdon are now wholly confined, about the 

 latter end of April, resorting to the fens of Lincolnshire, 

 the Isle of Ely, and a few other places, which suit their 

 peculiar habits. 



In the month of May, the male, besides the red and ca- 

 runculated face, acquires the curious and ornamental Ruff, 

 which characterizes the breeding season. It is scarcely 

 completed in this month, and begins to fall in the latter end 

 of June. With this singular decoration, he also undergoes 

 a complete change in the rest of his plumage, the colors 

 are more gay and brilliant ; there is then a predominance 

 of rufous and purple tints among the others, and the plain 

 and sombre livery of winter is laid aside. Full of ardor 

 and jealousy, the polygamous Ruffs now seek out the com- 

 pany of the Reeves, and when they have chosen a breeding 

 place, the males, so remarkable for their irritability, assem- 

 ble upon some contiguous rising spot of ground, where, like 

 so many professed duellists, erecting the ruff in a threaten- 

 ing attitude, they take their stand at a small distance from 

 each other, and in their sight, combat for the society of their 

 favorite females. This resort for amorous combat, is at 

 length so trodden, that the turf appears bare, and this battle 

 field thus betrays its company to their general enemy the 

 fowler. The Ruffs feed chiefly by night, repairing to the 

 hill of contest about the dawn of day, and so pugnacious 

 are they at this time, that they will often leap or flirt a yard 

 from the ground, towards some wanderer or company who 

 happen to be passing by ; and an imitation of this hostile 

 attitude, by a rudely stuffed bird jerked at the end of a long 

 string, is often suthcient to decoy the passengers to alight 

 in the snare. The pugnacious disposition of the Ruff, ac- 

 cording to Mr. Baillon, is exhibited as soon as they appear 



