THE RUFF. 235 



darker brown ; and the young are hatched about the middle, 

 or towards the end of June. During the whole of that 

 period, the males " hill " in the morning ; and they stand 

 accused of some Don Giovanni-ism ; but as the period of the 

 young breaking the shell approaches, they hill in fewer and 

 fewer numbers, combat less energetically, and at that time 

 cease from their combats altogether. It does not appear that 

 the males take any share in the building of the nest, the 

 incubation, or the feeding of the female while sitting nor 

 have they been seen tending the brood after. They are but 

 little seen during the moulting month ; and when they again 

 make their appearance, they are without their insignia of war, 

 and withal very peaceable birds, and harmonious with each 

 other. Their breeding feathers are indeed as fleeting as the 

 anthers and corollas of some flowers : they do not acquire 

 their full bloom till the middle or towards the end of May, 

 and they begin to fall in June, so that the growth of them is 

 posterior to the time of the spring moult, and their fall ante- 

 rior to that of autumn. The winter plumage of the birds has 

 none of those bright tints and glosses which appear on the 

 ruffs and even tufts, but with so much diversity, that the 

 description of any one would hardly be expressive of even 

 another individual. Formerly, so many of these birds used 

 to be taken in the fens towards the middle and end of Sep- 

 tember, that the capture of them was a regular trade ; but 

 now they are confined in their localities, diminished in their 

 numbers, and the trade is not so profitable, though fat 

 birds fetch a much higher price in the market. Generally 

 speaking, they quit the country in the latter part of 

 autumn, although stragglers remain all the winter; or at 

 least did so when the birds were more abundant than they 

 are now.* 



* The ruff is polygamous. It is remarkable that scarcely two males 

 agree in the colours of the temporary ornamental plumes. We have 



