698 rHE RUFF. 



ground " they drop their wings, stand with their legs half bent and trembling as if unable 

 to support the weight of their bodies. In this ridiculous position they will sometimes 

 stand for several minutes, uttering a curring sound, while from the corresponding 

 quiverings of their wings and long legs they seem to balance themselves with great 

 difficulty. This singular manoeuvre is no doubt intended to induce a belief that they may 

 easily be caught, and so turn the attention of the person from the pursuit of their eggs and 

 young to themselves." 



The Stilt is able to swim, but generally contents itself with wading up to its belly in 

 water. The flight of this bird is strong, and the long legs are trailed far behind the tail, 

 looking at a little distance as if it had carried off a piece of string fastened to its toes. 

 Five or six species of Stilt are known to science. The eggs of the Stilt are of a bluish 

 hue covered with streaks and blotches of dusky green and dark brown. 



The greater part of the plumage of this bird is white, but the back and wings are of a 

 deep black with a gloss of green. In the female the black takes a brownish tone. The 

 beak is black, the eggs red. and the legs and toes pink. The total length of this bird is 

 about thirteen inches. 



Like many other birds which depend for their existence upon marshy and uncultivated 

 grounds, the HUFF is gradually being turned out of England, and may in time be nothing 

 more than a rare and occasional visitor. 



It is one of the migratory species, arriving in this country in April and leaving by the 

 end of September. Formerly it was so common in the fenny districts that six dozen have 

 been taken by one birdcatcher in a single day. The flesh of these birds is remarkably 

 excellent, and they fatten fast, so that the trade of catching and fattening Ruffs was at 

 one time a very lucrative occupation, though it now hardly repays the trouble, time, 

 and expense. So readily can these birds be fattened, that a Ruff weighing only six 

 ounces when first placed in the cage, will weigh ten when removed for the table. 

 Generally the young birds of the first year are chosen for slaughter, as they are more 

 tender and bear captivity better than the older birds. As soon as captured the Ruffs will 

 begin to eat, and if a basin of food be placed among a number of these birds they will fight 

 so eagerly for it that each bird would starve rather than allow any but itself to partake of the 

 provisions. The feeders, therefore, humour their selfish disposition by placing several 

 dishes of food in the cages and filling them all 



The Ruff is a most pugnacious bird, rivalling if not exceeding the gamecock in 

 irritability of temper and reckless courage. Their attitude in fighting is not unlike that 

 of the cock, but as they have no spurs, they cannot inflict severe wounds, and after a 

 fierce contest neither party will be much the worse. Prolonged and obstinate combats are 

 waged among the Ruffs for the possession of the females, popularly called Reeves, and as 

 the birds make a great noise about their affairs, and in their eager combat trample down 

 the grass on the little hills where they love to resort, the fowler knows well where to lay 

 his nets. Many birds can be taken at one sweep of the net by an experienced fowler who 

 knows his business. 



The Ruff is chiefly remarkably for the peculiarity from which it derives its name, the 

 projecting ruff of long, closely set feathers, which surrounds the neck, and can be raised 

 or lowered at pleasure. This ruff only belongs to the adult males, and is assumed by them 

 during the short breeding season, being in greatest perfection about the beginning of June 

 and falling off by degrees from July to August and September, after which time the 

 plumage of the male assumes the ruff-less and sober tints of its mate. 



It is a remarkable fact that the male Ruffs are never coloured exactly alike, and if a 

 hundred individuals be compared together, each will be found to present some diversity 

 of tinting. Captivity also has a great effect in altering the form and colour of the plumage. 

 The general colouring of the male Ruff is briefly as follows : The head, ruf and shoulders 

 are black glossed with purple, and barred with chestnut. The back is chestnut spotted 

 with black, except the greater wing-coverts, which are ashen brown. The wings are 

 brownish black, and each feather has a white shaft. The tail is brown of various hues, 

 and mottled with black. The breast is chestnut mottled with black, and the abdomen is 



