THE RUFF AND REEVE. 243 



larger than their mates; and during the breeding 

 season put forth a curious frill of feathers on the 

 neck, which disappeared in autumn when the sexes 

 separated. These facts led naturalists to consider 

 the bird generically distinct from those above named, 

 and it is now generally placed in the genus Machetes, 

 which Cuvier, in 1817, proposed for it. 



By far the most complete account which has 

 been given of the Ruff and Reeve is that which was 

 published by Montagu, in 1813, in the supplement 

 to his Ornithological Dictionary . This distinguished 

 naturalist travelled from Devonshire into Lincoln- 

 shire a long journey in those days with the sole 

 object of studying these birds in their native fens, 

 and of ascertaining more than was then known of 

 their habits and curious change of plumage. He 

 experienced the greatest difficulty in discovering 

 the haunts of these birds, for the fen -men, who 

 made a trade of snaring them for the table, refused 

 to give him any information on the subject, fearing 

 lest their trade might be interfered with. He 

 attained his object, nevertheless, and carried back 

 with him several live Ruffs to Devonshire. These 

 he kept in confinement for a few years, and care- 



