72 
DEScRIP= 
TION. 
RUFF SANDPIPER. Crass Il. 
gives name to them, at once distinguishes them 
from all other birds. On jthe back of their 
necks isa singular tuft of, feathers spreading 
wide on both sides. These, and) the former, 
in some are black, in others white, yellow, or 
ferruginous; but this tuft and the ruffs fre- 
quently differ in colors in the same bird... The 
feathers that bear an uniformity of coloring 
through each-individual of this sex, are the 
coverts of the wings, which are brown inclining 
to ash color; the feathers on the breast, which 
are often black or dusky; the four exterior fea- 
thers of the tail, which ere of a cinereous 
brown; and the four middle, which are barred 
with black and brown ; the bill is black towards — 
the end, red at the base. The legs in all, are 
yellow. In moulting, they lose the character 
of the long neck-feathers, nor do they recover 
it till after their return to the fens the spring 
following. It is then they regain that ornament, 
and at the same time a set of small pear shaped 
yellow pimples break out in great numbers on 
their face above the bill. The Stags or male 
birds of the first year want these marks, and have 
sometimes been mistaken for a new species of 
Tringa; but they, may be easily known by the 
colors of the coverts of the wings, and the middle 
feathers of the tail.. The older the birds are; - 
: ee 
