THE RUFF 493 



this species possesses, only one or two serious fights seem to have 

 taken place during the whole period of Mr. Selous' observations. 

 Most of the apparent quarrels and fights subside almost as soon as 

 they have arisen, and gradually it becomes evident that the "hill" 

 is not really so much the duelling-ground, where the males dispute 

 for pride of place, as the pairing-ground, where the reeves make 

 choice among their many suitors, and the marriage rite is performed. 

 On the arrival of a reeve the ruffs all adopt a prostrate attitude, 

 their bodies pressed against the ground, the more eager occasionally 

 running a few steps nearer so as to press against her, and then 

 sinking again to the ground. Meantime the reeve, apparently un- 

 conscious, is quietly making her choice, and presently signifies it 

 by approaching some suppliant, and standing by his side gently 

 nibbles the feathers at the back of his head. This is generally the 

 prelude to the nuptial rite, which is acquiesced in and not interfered 

 with by the other males present. One very remarkable fact observed 

 by Mr. Selous was the extraordinary degree of preference shown by 

 the reeves for two particularly handsome ruffs, one a bird with a 

 full brown ruff and the other with a blue-black one. All attempts 

 to force the compliance of the reeve seemed to be fruitless, and 

 were rarely indulged in. Out of some twenty-two ruffs which could 

 be distinguished, not more than about six or perhaps eight at 

 the outside were seen to pair up to May 2nd, though in fairness it 

 must be added that other hills existed in the neighbourhood, and it 

 is possible that some of the ruffs in question had definite stations 

 at these. As it has been suggested that the reeves outnumber 

 the ruffs, and that the abnormal habits of the males are due to 

 the disproportionate numbers of the sexes, it may be well to 

 mention that the greatest number of reeves observed on this hill 

 was fourteen. 



It has, of course, long been known that the ruff was polygamous, 

 but Mr. Selous' notes make it tolerably evident that the reeve does 

 not confine her favours to one individual, but probably visits two or 



VOL. in. 3 s 



