198 THE R U 1 P. 



Full of ardour and jealousy, the polygamous RuSs noM 

 seek out the company of the Ilecvcs, and when they haT4 

 chosen a brcoding-place, the males, so remarkable for theij 

 irritability, assemble upon some contiguous rising spot of 

 ground, where, like so many professed duellists, erecting 

 the ruff in a threatening attitude, they take their stand at a 

 small distance from each other, and in their sight, combat 

 for the society of their favourite females. This resort for 

 amorous combat is at length so trodden, that the turf 

 appears bare, and this battle-field thus betrays its company 

 to their general enemy the fowler. 



The Ruffs feed chiefly by night, repairing to the hill of 

 contest about the dawn of day, and so pugnacious are they 

 at this time, that they will often leap or flirt a yard from 

 the ground, towards some wanderer or company who hap- 

 pen to. be passing by; and an imitation of this hostile 

 attitude, by a rudely stuffed bird jerked at the end of a long 

 string, is often sufficient to docoy the passengers to alight 

 in the snare. The pugnacious disposition of the Ruff, ac- 

 cording to Mr. Baillon, is exhibited as soon as they appear 

 In April, and before their arrival at their breeding-place. 

 la the marshes of Montreuil-sur-]Mer, where he had often 

 occasion to follow them, he rem.arks, that their first object 

 is to pair, or rather to fight with their rivals, while the feeble 

 gcreama of the females rouso and exasperate their hostility, 

 fcnd their battles are often long, obii:-tin; te, and sometimai 

 bloody. The vanquished betakes hiinself to flight, bu» ibn 



