8oo' RUFF 



between any two of them, while the individual variation is increased 

 by the " ear-tufts," which generally differ in colour from the frill, 

 and thus produce a combination of diversity. The colours range 

 from deej) black to pure white, passing through chestnut or bay, 

 and many tints of brown or ashy-grey, while often the feathers are 

 more or less closely barred with some darker shade, and the black 

 is very frequently glossed with violet, blue or green — or, in 

 addition spangled with white, grey or gold-colour. The white, on 

 the other hand, is not rarely freckled, streaked or barred with 

 grey, rufous-brown or black. In some examples the barring is 

 most regularly concentric, in others more or less broken-up or un- 

 dulating, and the latter may be said of the streaks. It was ascer- 

 tained by Montagu, and has since been confirmed by the still wider 

 experience and if possible more carefully-conducted observation of 

 Mr. Bartlett, that every Ruff in each successive year assumes tufts 

 and frill exactly the same in colour and markings as those he wore 

 in the preceding season ; and thus, polymorphic as is the male as a 

 species, as an individual he is unchangeable in his wedding-garment 

 — a lesson that might possibly be applied to many other birds. 

 The white frill is said to be the rarest. 



That all this wonderful " show " is the consequence of the 

 polygamous habit of the Rufl" can scarcely be doubted. No other 

 species of Limicoline bird has, so far as is known, any tendency to 

 it. Indeed, in many species of Limkolx, as the Dotterel, the 

 GODWITS, Fhalaropes and perhaps some others, the female is 

 larger and more brightly coloured than the male, who in such cases 

 seems to take upon himself some at least of the domestic duties. 

 Both Montagu and Graves, to say nothing of other writers, state 

 that the Ruffs, in England, were far more numerous than the 

 Reeves, and their testimony can hardly be doubted ; though in 

 Germany Naumann {V'og. Deutschl. vii. p. 544) considers that this 

 is only the case in the earlier part of the season, and that later the 

 females greatly outnumber the males. It remains to say that the 

 moral characteristics of the Ruff exceed even anything that might 

 be inferred from what has been already stated. By no one have 

 they been more happily described than by Wolley, in a communica- 

 tion to Hewitson {Eggs of Brit. Birds, ed. 3, p. 346), as follows : — 



" The Ruff, like other tine gentlemen, takes much more trouble with 

 his courtship than with his duties as a husband. Whilst the Reeves are 

 sitting on their eggs, scattered about the swamps, he is to be seen far 

 away flitting about in flocks, and on the ground dancing and sparring 

 Avith his companions. Before they are confined to their nests, it is 

 wonderful with what devotion the females are attended by their gay 

 followers, who seem to be each trying to be more attentive than the rest. 

 Nothing can be more expressive of humility and ardent love than some of 

 the actions of the Ruff. He throws himself prostrate on the ground, with 



