The Ruff 

 THE RUFF 



Machetes pugnax (Linnaeus) 



Formerly this species used to be a regular summer 

 migrant to our shores, breeding in the fen countries and 

 other suitable places, but now, although a few birds visit 

 this country in spring, and possibly a few may still breed, 

 it is only as an autumn visitor that it will be generally 

 found. Even on passage it can hardly be called common, 

 but on our east and south coasts a good many pass through, 

 halting merely for a few days. On the west and in Ireland 

 it is decidedly rare and irregular in its appearances. 



This species differs in its nesting habits from all other 

 Waders. The males, who don a special showy ruff in spring, 

 meet at their breeding-quarters on some raised mound and 

 display their finery to the hens. Apparently they are very 

 pugnacious, as they will often jump up and peck at another 

 male, using their feet also after the manner of a gallinaceous 

 bird, but on close observation it will be seen to be all 

 " show," and we have never seen a proper fight between 

 two males. On the arrival of a female the males spread 

 out their ruff and remain motionless in front of her, and as 

 she moves away they will jump up, and quivering with 

 suppressed excitement again display their charms, to which 

 she is apparently quite indifferent. Although said to be 

 polygamous, the question is still open to doubt ; from among 

 her many admirers the female chooses one, and observations, 

 so far as they go, seem to show that she only pairs with 



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