86 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



Materials. Dry grass, reeds, leaves, &c., profusely 

 lined with down, differing from the Teal's in being 

 darker and tipped with white. 



Eggs. Seven to ten or more. Creamy white. Like 

 the Teal's, but rather larger. 



RUFF (FEMALE, REEVE) (Machetes pugnax). 



Now extinct as a breeding species. Usually seen on 

 the autumn migration, less often in spring, chiefly on 

 the east coast. 



Haunts. Marsh and fen districts. 



Plumage. Face covered with yellowish caruncles. 

 Tuft of curled feathers on each side of head. An erectile, 

 shield-like ruff round neck, which is variegated with 

 purplish, chestnut, grey and white. Plumage generally 

 mottled with, ash, black, brown, yellowish and white. 

 Bill brown, darker at tip. Legs and feet yellowish 

 brown. Length 12 in. Plumage very variable. The 

 foregoing is the male's nuptial dress, worn only in May 

 and June. After moult, the male resembles the female, 

 but is larger. Face feathered, and no ruff and head- 

 tufts ; upper parts dark brown, with buff margins ; 

 neck and breast buff ; other under-parts dull white. 

 Young, well-margined with buff on upper parts. 



Language. A low " tu-whit." 



Habits. Polygamous, fighting most desperately for 

 the hens. Nowadays we see the Ruff only in its winter 

 plumage, and generally in small flocks, on our coasts. 

 Flight rapid. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, worms, small Crustacea 

 and mollusca, and vegetable substances. 



Nidification. Breeds in Europe. 



