COURTSHIP AND DISPLAY 199 



Suddenly, after posing for perhaps ten minutes or more 

 immovably in this attitude, the ruff starts into life, 

 running in a wide circle and spreading his wings, and 

 then as suddenly relapses into his pose, with downcast 

 eyes and beak touching the ground. This, it appears, 

 is all a challenge to any other ruff who ventures near 

 him, and often results in a fight with another individual 

 who is offended by his " swagger" and attacks him. It 

 also is an invitation and attraction to the female or 

 " reeve " who is on the look out for a mate. 



The display of the bustard, though his feathers are 

 only light brown and white, is a very strange and 

 arresting performance. In ordinary circumstances his 

 feathers are nicely smoothed down, and he looks neat 

 and fit. But at the breeding season he behaves like 

 Malvolio when he wore cross-garters to please his lady. 

 He approaches two or three females who are quietly 

 feeding, and throwing his head back and his chest 

 forward, swelling his neck out with inspired air and 

 reflecting his tail feathers inside out (so to speak) over 

 his back, he makes the most extraordinary havoc of 

 his previously neat costume. The feathers are made 

 to stand up and reflected backwards in groups, and 

 show their underlying white surfaces round the head, 

 on the chest, and on the wings and back, so that he 

 suggests the appearance of a portly old gentleman, in 

 full evening dress, the worse for liquor, his high collar 

 unbuttoned and flapping, his short " front " bulging and 

 loose, whilst he maintains all the time a pompous and 

 dignified pose strangely inconsistent with his disordered 

 costume and hesitating gait. As he struts and poses 

 the lady bustards, though intensely interested in his 

 strange behaviour, make no sign, and continue pecking 

 for food, as who should say with Beatrice, " I wonder 



