226 RUFF. 



the banks of the Sol way, where, at the seasons 

 alluded to, they may almost always be met with. 



In the breeding plumage, as we have already 

 stated, the colours, or distribution of the markings, 

 are not similar in any two birds. The general 

 appearance of it varies from white to very deep 

 brown, yariegated on the ruff and breast by cross 

 markings of a deeper shade, or of Mack, and on the 

 back and upper plumage assuming the general dis- 

 tribution of the colouring of the Tringce^ but subject 

 to the same variation of grey, brown, or chestnut, in 

 some examples almost amounting to black ; the paler 

 or very dark coloured specimens are, we believe, the 

 most uncommon. It is very remarkable, however, 

 that the annual changes in the same bird do not 

 vary, at least such was the result of Colonel Mon- 

 tague's observations on birds kept in confinement 

 for three or four years ; he found the ruffs produced 

 of the same colour every spring, as well as the other 

 markings ; at the same time, the warty tubercles on 

 the forehead did not appear in this state of restraint. 

 In the birds, after the sexual adornment has passed 

 away, the appearance has a resemblance both to the 

 true snipes and to some of the Tringce or sand- 

 pipers. In a male before us, shot on the Northum- 

 brian coast, in the end of December, the crown is 

 reddish-brown, deeply streaked along the centre of 

 each feather with olive-brown ; the neck and breast 

 are wood-brown, having the back part of the former 

 clouded, by the centres of the feathers being darker, 

 and, towards the belly, shading into pure whJte f 



