SCOLOPACID.E. 399 



would starve in the midst of plenty if their food 

 were not placed in several dishes at a distance from 

 each other. 



In a wild state the food of the Ruff appears to 

 consist mostly of worms and aquatic insects : when 

 tame they may be fed on bread and milk or boiled 

 wheat. . , 



The nest is usually placed upon a tump in a moist 

 swampy place, surrounded by coarse grass, of which 

 it is formed. 



The Buff certainly varies more in plumage than 

 any other British bird : of all those I have seen in 

 the London markets and the poulterers' shops, or in 

 collections, I do not think I have ever seen two quite 

 alike. The great peculiarity in the appearance of 

 this species is the ruff, which is assumed by the males 

 only for a short time in the breeding season, and 

 disappears very soon afterwards : this ruff consists 

 of long feathers growing out of the higher part of 

 the neck and nearly surrounding the face : there are 

 also two conspicuous tufts growing from the ear- 

 coverts and standing up on each side of the head. 



To give a description of all the variations of 

 plumage in this bird would of course be impossible : 

 I have, however, selected, from birds in my own 

 collection, two males in spring plumage, one in 

 winter, and a young bird of the year, which I 

 think will give a general idea of the extensive 

 variations which occur, especially in the spring 



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