I 4 2



Mr. G. C. Porter,



but the process is very slow, as it is now October and the face is

only denuded of the small bluish green feathers and the ears

have lost their tufts.* f In the winter the Ruff is very much like

the Reeve, all his former glory has departed, and he is now clad

in a sober suit of grey and brown, but is, I should think, about a

third larger than the Reeve, and the yellow bill is very much

stouter and has a black tip, while that of the Reeve is quite

black.


As they are extremely fond of bathing, a good sized pan of

water should be provided, and of course if anything more preten¬

tious can be provided, such as a small pond, so much the better.

A bird of this kind is absolutely regardless of the weather.

This is in many respects a great advantage, as during the Nov¬

ember Fogs and on cold winter nights one need not have any

fears concerning them; they are sure to turn up read} 7 for their

breakfast in the morning. I wish the same could always be said

about some of the foreign birds.


The Reeves differ very much in plumage; one would

hardly know that they belonged to the same species. The Ruffs

differ even more than the Reeves. I myself have seen stuffed

specimens with a light brown ruff spotted with black, while Gatke,

in his “ Birds of Heligoland,” states he has twice shot specimens

with this appendage pure white. The only note I have ever

heard (and this is common to both Ruff and Reeves) is a low

barking noise. I give them the pupae of the meat fly, gentles,

mealworms and if a pot full of earwigs or spiders can be emptied

in so much the better. From experience I may say that they

winter admirably on this fare. One difficulty is that,

although tame enough with me, the sight of a cat, or a strange

noise, causes them to fly up and dash their heads violently against

the netting, so it is advisable to cut a few feathers from one wing.

This does not detract from the appearance of the birds, and I

found it to act satisfactorily.



* December 4th—The Ruff has not yet entirely disappeared, which I attribute to the

mildness of the season.—G. C. P.



+ In wild birds the ruff is entirely lost by October.—J. L. B.



