BIRD ORNAMENTS AND TOURNAMENTS. 59 



battles fought that, during the conflict, the com- 

 batants are utterly oblivious to danger, and may 

 be approached and shot, or even taken with the 

 hand. In some birds, as, for instance, the Spur- 

 winged Plover, the wings are armed with long, 

 sharp spurs ; and even in our own Peewit the 

 male has a tubercle on the shoulder which en- 

 larges during spring, and which most probably 

 assists him in his combats with rivals. Another 

 most remarkable bird-tournarnent is held by the 

 Ruffs in spring. Certain recognised meeting- 

 places soon become bare of turf, owing to the 

 numerous combats upon them. Though spurless, 

 the Ruff fights fiercely with his sharp beak and 

 powerful wings, the singular ruff of feathers round 

 the neck being opened out as a shield to protect 

 the body from harm ; and the face is covered with 

 warty excrescences, which doubtless serve as 

 armour against the blows from an opponent's 

 beak. It would seem that these tournaments are 

 carried on in an orderly way, with much method, 

 and subject to certain regulations, the young males 

 never being allowed to show off their charms until 

 they have fought their way to fame, and literally 

 "won their spurs." 



There are combats between most birds during 

 the season of love. The display of charms, and 

 the utterance of song, inevitably lead to combat ; 

 they are the incentives to the strife, and never 

 fail to work upon the passions of the rivals until 

 they reach such a climax that deadly combat is 



