180 MACHETES PUGNAX. 



" The long feathers on tlie neck and sides of the head, in 

 the male, that constitute the ruff and auricles, are of short 

 duration; for they are scarcely completed in the month of 

 May, and begin to fall the latter end of June. The change 

 of these singular parts is accompanied by a complete change 

 of plumage; the stronger colours, such as purple, chesnut, 

 and some others, vanish at the same time, so that in their 

 winter dress they become more generally alike from being 

 less varied in plumage ; but we observed that those who had 

 the ruff more or less white, retained that colour about the 

 neck after the summer or autumnal moulting was effected. 



" The females, or Reeves, begin laying their eggs the first 

 or second week in May ; and we have found their nest with 

 young as early as the third of June. By this time the males 

 cease to hill. The nest is usually formed upon a stump in 

 the most swampy places, surrounded by coarse grass, of 

 which it is also formed. The eggs are (as usual with its 

 congeners) four in number ; these are so nearly similar in 

 colour to those of the Snipe and Redshank, both of which 

 breed in the same wet places, and make similar nests, that 

 some experience is required to discriminate them. They 

 are, however, superior in size to the former, and are known 

 from the latter by the ground being of a greenish hue 

 instead of a rufous white ; but individuals assimilate so 

 nearly to each other as not to be distinguished, especially as 

 the dusky and brown spots and blotches are similar. The 

 weight of the eggs is from five drams twenty grains to five 

 drams fifty grains. 



" The weight of the Ruff in the spring, when first taken, 

 is from five ounces and three quarters to six ounces and a 

 quarter ; the weight of the Reeves about four ounces. The 

 length of an old Ruff is sometimes as much as thirteen 

 inches and a half; young males about twelve inches. The 

 female measures about ten inches. 



" It is a remarkable character of these birds, that they 

 feed most greedily the moment they are taken ; a basin of 

 bread and milk, or boiled wheat, placed before them, is 

 instantly contended for ; and so pugnacious is their dis- 

 position, that they would starve in the midst of plenty, if 



