462 



THE AVOCET AND THE RUFF. 



grounds being chosen in some places, while marshy and boggy soils are 

 favored in others. The nest of this bird is very slight, being only a 

 small heap of dry leaves or grasses scraped together under the shelter 

 of a tuft of heather or a bunch of rank grass. There are usually four 

 eggs, placed, as is customary with such birds, with their small ends to- 

 gether, and being much larger at one end than at the other. Their 

 color is brownish green, with some blotches and splashes of dark brown 

 and a darker green. 



The AvocET is one of the most remarkable among English birds, 

 and is easily recognizable by its long, curiously-curved beak and its 

 boldly-pied plumage. 



It is not a common bird in England, and is now but seldom seen, 

 though in former days it used to be tolerably plentiful on the seacoasts 



and in marshy lands. The 

 long and oddly-curved beak 

 is very slender and pointed, 

 and from its peculiar shape 

 has earned for its owner 

 the name of Cobbler's-Awl 

 Bird. The food of the 

 Avocet consists almost 

 wholly of worms, insects, 

 and little crustaceans; and 

 while the bird is engaged 

 in the search after these 

 creatures it paddles over 

 the oozy mud with its webbed feet, and traverses the soft surface with 

 nmch ease and some celerity. 



The nest of the Avocet is placed on the ground in some convenient 

 hollow, and the eggs are yellowish brown with black marks. 



Like many other birds which depend for their existence upon marshy 

 and uncultivated grounds, the Ruff is gradually being turned out of 

 England, and may in time be nothing more than a rare and occasional 

 visitor. 



It is one of the migratory species, arriving in this country in April 

 and leaving by the end of September. Formerly it was so common in 

 the fenny districts that six dozen have been taken by one bird-catcher 

 in a single day. 



The Ruff is a most pugnacious bird, rivalling, if not exceeding, the 

 game-cock in irritability of temper and reckless courage. The attitude 

 of fighting is not unlike that of the cock, but, as it has no spurs, it 

 cannot inflict severe wounds, and after a fierce contest neither party 

 will be much the worse. Prolonged and obstinate combats are waged 

 among the Ruffs for the possession of the females— popularly called 



The AvociiT {Eecurvirosh-a avoceila) 



