Heads and Necks 



279 



We can only compare these little Joseph-coated hii-ds 

 with the unnatural sports among domestic poultr\- and 

 pigeons. 



But whatever their colour, these Fighting SnijK' find 

 their ruffs of service in their encounters at the breeding 

 season. Four male birds which I observed in capti\ity 



Fig. 223. — Ruff with battle-rloak partly moulted. 



were adorned respectively, — ]:>lain gray, dotted gray, 



chestnut barred with black, and a rich golden rufous. 



Though no females were present, yet their fighting instinct 



often cropped out and a pair of them would dart and side- 



1 step about each other, bills held low and far ad\'anced, 



j ruff spread out from the breast and traiUng low, liichng 



I almost the whole body. Now and then one of the fencers 



would make a vicious dtish, sending his l)ill througli tlie 



