THE RUFF AND REEVE. 



PLATE XXVIII. 



Class Aves. Order V. Gralliatuae, waders. Genus 



Tringa pugnax. Lin. 



THE periodical changes which the plumage of the feathered 

 race undergoes have long excited the attention of naturalists. 

 To a great extent these changes are connected with atmos- 

 pheric temperature. The severities of winter demand a 

 warmer, a fuller, and often a differently colored garment, in 

 order that the vital heat of the system may be duly preserved. 

 The autumnal change of coloring (where such occurs) is from 

 variegated, or bright and rich tints, to dusky, or pure white ; 

 the spring change restores these tints again. But besides the 

 changes here alluded to, and which have a special reference 

 to the preservation of the temperature of the body in winter, 

 and secondarily to concealment changes which are exem- 

 plified most fully in the ptarmigan and other allied species 

 there is another change of dress, if change it can be called, 

 peculiar to many birds, which consists in the assumption of 

 ornamental plumes in the males on the approach of spring. 

 Among the species peculiar to the hotter climates of the globe, 

 this arrangement predominates to a very great extent ; but 

 it is also remarkable in some species indigenous in our lati- 

 tudes, and eminently so in the bird now before us (Machetes 

 pugnax, Cuv.), of which the male, in consequence of the 

 ornamental plumes on the neck during the breeding season is 

 termed the ruff, while the female, to whose attire no such 

 addition is made, is termed the reeve. 



The ruff (applying the term, for convenience sake, as is 

 usually done, to both sexes), belongs to the order Grallatores, 

 and is one of our summer birds of passage, leaving our lati- 

 tudes on the setting in of the cold months of winter. A few 

 stragglers, however, occasionally remain with us during the 



