242 THE KUFF AND ITS HABITS. 



Lapland, where, according to M. Malm, " it is very 

 common on all the swampy fjall-moors, as high up as the 

 fir-tree otows." It is likewise numerous in the Danish 

 islands. The females, Kja?rh5lling tells us, " arrive 

 during the latter half of April, but the males not until 

 a fortnight later. They are, however, the first to 

 depart again, leaving early in August ; but the females 

 and the yoixng remain somewhat longer." 



The Ruff has been famous from time immemorial for 

 its combative propensities, and in Sweden, as elsewhere, 

 these birds have certain arenas where the champions 

 settle their quarrels. " Their actions in fighting are 

 verv similar to those of a game-cock : the head is lowered, 

 and the beak held in a horizontal direction ; the ruff, and 

 indeed every feather, more or less distended ; the former 

 sweej)ing the ground as a shield to defend the more tender' 

 parts ; the auricles erected, and the tail partly spread, — 

 upon the whole assuming a most ferocious aspect. When 

 either can obtain a fair hold with the bill, a leap succeeds, 

 accompanied by a stroke of the wing, — but they rarely 

 injure each other."' 



