228 THE RUFF AND REEVE. 



Captivity, which subdues the spirit of most wild creatures, 

 strange to say, does not abate the pugnacity of the full- 

 plumed males taken in the spring. Not only will the ap- 

 pearance of a reeve excite them to strife, but a bowl of food 

 set before them will produce the same effect, and lead to a 

 tumultuous conflict, which, as the arena is very limited, and 

 the weaker have no chance of escape, is sometimes known to 

 result in fatal consequences. 



Of the variable color of the neck and ear plumes we have 

 already spoken. The rest of the coloring may be thus de- 

 scribed. The upper parts of the body are varied with a mix- 

 ture of brown, pale yellow, and black ; the sides of the chest 

 and flanks are barred with black on a pale yellow ground. 

 The under surface is white. In some individuals these tints 

 are much darker than in others. 



The reeve in summer has the upper surface varied with 

 glossy black on a cinereous grey ground ; in winter the color 

 becomes mofe uniform, losing the markings of black. The 

 young of the year have the sides of the neck and chest and 

 the region round the eye of a yellowish brown, with a tinge 

 of orange, and the back is dark brown, glossed with purple, 

 each feather having a deep margin of pale yellowish brown. 

 In this stage it has been mistaken for a distinct species. 



