SCOLOPACIDE. 399 
would starve in the midst of plenty if their food 
were not placed in several dishes at a distance from 
each other. 
In a wild state the food of the Ruff appears to 
consist mostly of worms and aquatic insects: when 
ame they may be fed on bread and milk or boiled 
wheat. 
The nest is usually placed upon a tump in a moist 
swampy place, surrounded by coarse grass, of which 
it is formed. 
The Ruff certainly varies more in plumage than 
any other British bird: of all those I have seen in 
the London markets and the poulterers’ shops, or in 
collections, I do not think I have ever seen two quite 
alike. ‘I'he great peculiarity in the appearance of 
this species is the ruff, which is assumed by the males 
only for a short time in the breeding season, and 
disappears very soon afterwards: this ruff consists 
of long feathers growing out of the higher part of 
the neck and nearly surrounding the face: there are 
also two conspicuous tufts growing from the ear- 
coverts and standing up on each side of the head. 
To give a description of all the variations of 
plumage in this bird would of course be impossible: 
I have, however, selected, from birds in my own 
collection, two males in spring plumage, one in 
winter, and a young bird of the year, which I 
think will give a general idea of the extensive 
variations which occur, especially in the spring 
2M2 
