VOL. XIII.] THE RUFF— AN EARLY RECORD. 15 



that he does not mention it was found in England, and that 

 while he figures six illustrations of the Ruff and Reeve he 

 omits the seventh figure given by Aldrovandus above men- 

 tioned. Merrett further goes on to state that the female 

 of the Ruff was called " a Reev " and that it was found 

 in Lincolnshire, and there he leaves the matter. It was 

 not indeed till the appearance of Francis Willughby's (1635- 

 72) Ornithologia in 1676 that we have any information as 

 to the habits and distribution of the Ruff in this country. 

 Willughby says, " In the cock bird a circle of long feathers, 

 something resembling a Ruff, encompasses the Neck under 

 the Head, whence they took the name of Ruffs." He further 

 adds, " The}' breed in Summer-time in the Fens of Lincoln- 

 shire about Crowland." * It only remains to append a 

 spaced title and collation and a verbatim transcript of the 

 black letter text of the Ashburnham tract. 



A most wonderfull, and true report, the like | never heard 

 of before, of divers unknowne Foules having the Fethers 

 I about their heads, and neckes, like to the Frysled fore 

 tops, Lockes | and great Ruffes, now in use amongst men 

 and women. Lately taken at Crowley in j the Countie of 

 Lyncolne, and seen alive and deade by divers Right Worship- 

 full and I Credible Persons: whereof the names of some 

 are herein remembred. 



The collation is as follows : — i vol. 8vo, Black Letter 

 Sig. I, A 2, pp. 8 (inclusive of front or cover with title and 

 cut of Ruff as below). 



Subjoined is the full transcript of the text : 



A most wonderfull, and true report, the like never hearde 

 of before, of diverse unknowne Foules : having the Fethers 

 about their heads, and neckes, like to the frysled fore-tops, 

 Lockes, and great Ruffes now in use among men, and 

 Women : latelie taken at Crowley in the Countie of Lyncolne 

 in 1586. 



I present thine eyes (friendly Reader) with a Spectacle 



* Walter Charleton (1619— 1707), in his Owoiwas^icwi Zoicon, published 

 in 1668, also mentions "Avis Piignax the Ruff (because in fighting 

 they raise up there feathers on the necke like a double Ruff)." 



