THE RUFF AND REEVE. 225 



whole of the winter season ; and on one of the severest days 

 of December last, an individual was shot on the banks of the 

 Thames, near Hampton, by Mr. Gould, the author of the 

 " Birds of Europe" and other works on ornithology. This is 

 certainly a very remarkable instance ; indeed, we are not 

 aware of another on record. The individual in question was 

 a male, in its plain or winter livery. 



It is seldom before the middle of April that the ruff visits 

 our land and the parallel latitudes of the adjacent country, on 

 its return from its winter quarters in the sunny districts of the 

 south ; and it is still later before it reaches more northern re- 

 gions, for it extends its vernal migration even as far as the 

 bleak shores of Iceland. Its favorite haunts and breeding 

 places are extensive fenny districts or marshes, where it can 

 enjoy undisturbed seclusion, and procure food in due abund- 

 ance. In England, the fens of Lincolnshire arid Cambridge 

 are its principal resort, but it occurs also in various other places 

 of a similar character. In Holland, it is very abundant. It 

 would appear that the males are the first to arrive at their 

 destined station ; at all events, they keep themselves in dis- 

 tant bands, separate from the females. As the breeding time 

 draws near, beautiful long plumes round the neck, forming a 

 ruff, and large full-ear tufts, rapidly develope. The males 

 now begin to hill, as it is termed that is, they seek some spot 

 a little elevated above the surrounding marsh, to which, as to 

 a common centre, numbers are gradually drawn. Here each 

 individual selects its own station or little territory, for the pos- 

 session of which it strenuously contends ; the attempt of a 

 rival to encroach upon the circle is immediately followed by 

 a hard-fought battle, the territory being ceded by the van- 

 quished to the victor. These battles and contests are almost 

 incessant, at least during the day ; for at night they all return 

 to the marsh in order to feed, (in this respect their habits be- 

 ing nocturnal), but in the morning each resumes its station, 

 and the contests are again carried on. Here, full of animo- 

 sity against each other, and jealous of each other's rights,they 

 await the arrival of the 'females. The animal on the hill of 



