798 RUFF 
RUFF, so called from the very beautiful and remarkable frill of 
elongated feathers that, just before the breeding-season, grow 
thickly round the neck of the male,’ who is considerably larger 
than the female, known as the REEVE. In many respects this 
species, the Zringa pugnax of Linneeus and the Machetes pugnax of 
the majority of modern ornithologists, is one of the most singular 
in existence, and yet its singularities have been very ill appreciated 
by zoological writers in general? These singularities would require 
almost a volume to describe properly. The best account of them 
is unquestionably that given in 1813 by Montagu (Suppl. Orn. 
Dict.), who seems to have been particularly struck by the extra- 
ordinary peculiarities of the species, and, to investigate them, 
expressly visited the fens of Lincolnshire, possibly excited thereto by 
the example of Pennant, whose information, personally collected there 
in 1769, was of a kind to provoke further enquiry, while Daniel 
(Rural Sports, ii. p. 234) had added some other particulars, and 
subsequently Graves (Brit. Orn. i.) in 1816 repeated in the same 
district the experience of his predecessors. Since that time the 
great changes produced by the drainage of the fen-country have 
banished this species from nearly the whole of it, so that Lubbock 
(Fauna Norf. pp. 68-73; ed. 2, Southwell, pp. 102, 103) and 
Stevenson (Birds Norf. ii. pp. 261-271) can alone be cited as 
modern witnesses of its habits in England, while the trade of 
netting or snaring Ruffs and fattening them for the table has for 
many years ceased.? 
The cock-bird, when out of his nuptial attire, or, to use the 
fenman’s expression, when he has not “his show on,” and the hen 
at all seasons, offer no very remarkable deviation from ordinary 
1 This ‘‘ruff” has been compared to that of Elizabethan or Jacobean costume, 
but it is essentially different, since that was open in front and widest and most 
projecting behind, whereas the bird’s decorative apparel is most developed in 
front and at the sides and scarcely exists behind. It seems to be at present 
unknown whether the bird was named from the frill, or the frill from the bird. 
In the latter case the name should possibly be spelt Rough (cf. ‘‘ rough-footed ” 
as applied to Fowls with feathered legs), as in 1666 Merrett (Pinaz, p. 182) 
had it. 
2 Mr. Darwin, though frequently citing (Descent of Man and Sexual Selection, 
i. pp. 270, 306 ; ii. pp. 41, 42, 48, 81, 84, 100, 111) the Ruff as a witness in various 
capacities, most unfortunately seems never to have had its peculiarities presented 
to him in such a form that he could fully perceive their bearings. Though the 
significance of the lesson that the Ruff may teach was hardly conceivable before 
he began to write, the fact is not the less to be regretted that he never elucidated 
its importance, not only in regard to ‘‘ Sexual Selection,” but more especially 
with respect to ‘‘ Polymorphism.” 
3 I can well recollect considerable numbers, both alive and dead, being 
annually imported from Holland ; but I believe that this practice is now given 
up. 
