RUFF. 



109 



these infinite variations may be reduced to thirty-three typical ones, the remainder 

 being to all appearance intermediate forms or crosses. The accompanying cut gives 

 only an inadequate idea of its peculiar aspect at this season, but will serve as an illus- 

 tration for the following account, the excellency of which may be an excuse for again 

 introducing Mr. Seebohm: "There are two points of special interest attaching to 

 the history of the ruff, which are probably intimately connected with each other. 

 One of them is the extraordinary variety of the plumage of the males in the breeding 

 season, and the other is the fact that the ruff is polygamous. It is said that the 

 females largely outnumber the males. Naumann estimates the proportion as three to 

 one, and this discrepancy is confirmed by African collectors. The males contend in 



Fin. 51. Pavoncella pugnax, ruff. 



single combat for the right of being ' cock of the walk,' and for this purpose battle-, 

 fields are chosen, like the ' laking-places ' of the capercaillie and the blackcock. 

 These are sometimes on a slight elevation, but usually are nothing more than a spot 

 of open ground in the marsh, where a patch of level short grass is to be found, four 

 or five feet across, and so situated that it may be exposed to the view of the admiring 

 females. The same piece of ground is chosen year after year, and Naumann mentions 

 an instance of one which had been thus used for half a century. Frequently two or 

 three duels are going on at once on the ground, but they seldom last long. After 

 what looks like furious sparring, the weaker cock retires from the ' hill,' seldom any 

 worse for the fray, and the conqueror awaits another foe. These cock-fights are not 

 commenced until the ruff or collar is fully grown, which is seldom before the middle 



