RUFF 323 
and rearing her brood her spouse is leading a bachelor life 
with other males of his own species, with which, on the 
least provocation, he spars furiously. 
Formerly the Ruff bred in Somerset, Cambridgeshire, 
Huntingdonshire, Norfolk, Lincoln, and Lancashire. Re- 
cently, viz., June 28th, 1889, two nests with eggs were 
found in Norfolk (Gurney, ‘ Zoologist,’ 1889) ; while in 1897 
a nest was found near Hoveton Broad, by Mr. Marchant 
(Harting}. Norfolk and Lincolnshire appear to have been 
the headquarters of this species; in the latter county Mr. 
Gurney gives the following calculation of the number of 
nests recorded during the past forty years :—1858, about 
fourteen ; 1868, about five; 1878, about two; 1888, about 
one; 1898, no nests (A. Patterson, ‘ Zoologist,’ 1901, p. 103). 
At the present day it is a rare breeding-species in England. 
Geographical distribution.—Abroad, the Ruff breeds as 
far south as the North of France, also in Belgium, Germany, 
and Holland. In Northern Europe it finds suitable nesting- 
haunts in Scandinavia and Russia, while eastward it can be 
traced through Northern Siberia. On migration it visits 
the European, Asiatic, and African Continents, travelling 
southward to Cape Colony, India, China, and Japan. 
Strageglers have been taken in North America. 
DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS.' 
PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial.—About the end of April 
or the beginning of May the male assumes his remark- 
able ‘ruff’ or ‘neck-frill, together with a tuft of wavy 
feathers, which spring from the back of the head. This 
plumage is retained until about the end of June. It is 
altogether peculiar to the adult male bird. It is interesting 
to note that the ‘ ruff’ varies considerably in colour, the chief 
types being :—black, barred with white; rich reddish- 
brown, variegated with black; white, interspersed with 
black feathers. The reddish-brown ‘ruff’ appears to be 
the most usual colour, the pure white the rarest (Payne- 
Gallwey). I have in my collection a specimen with light 
cinnamon-coloured head and tufts, while the ‘frill’ is 
! The difference in size in the sexes is so marked in this species that 
it may be also well to include the relative weights as follows :— 
Male ... a EN ONOZ: Extreme (heavy) ee Olor 
Female se AOS ee ‘3 (light) ee Wei ias 
