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ancient ruff. It has also a tuft of feathers projecting 

 beyond each eye, and presenting the appearance of 

 long ears. 



The male does not acquire the ruff until the 2nd. 

 season, and loses it after the time of incubation. 



This bird is remarkable different in its plumage, 

 no two being marked exactly alike ; hence has arisen 

 the many supposed species which have been de- 

 scribed from it in different feathers. The plumage 

 is generally brown from the lightest tint to the deepest 

 chocolate colour; sometimes the ruff is of a fine 

 tender buff colour, without spots ; others have it deep 

 brown, white or spotted, in endless variety. 



Female. The females* have no ruff, and are gene- 

 rally of a pale brown colour, the back spotted with 

 black, the breast and belly white ; legs of a pale 

 yellow. 



The ruff arrives in spring in Lincolnshire, and in 

 the East-riding of Yorkshire. 



The female in the beginning of May make her nest 

 1 n a tuft of grass in the fens, and lays 4 white eggs, 

 marked with rusty spots. 



