422 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



made a few first steps, she moved very little, but when she did 

 there would be a commotion amongst the Ruffs nearest to her. 

 These turned round, raised themselves a little, pressed, again, to 

 the ground, whilst one or another, and, at one time, at least 

 three or four, ran up nearer to her, in this curious sort of way, 

 and then lay prone, about her. The golden-brown bird did this 

 more noticeably than any other, and she moved a step or two 

 up to, and stood close beside him, as though approving him 

 more than the rest. On the whole each bird seemed content, as 

 it were, to wait, thus glued to the ground. Certainly the Eeeve 

 looked indifferent, but were an actress transformed into a bird, 

 and required to be languishing, I know not how she would con- 

 vey that impression to us through facial expression only. 



The difficulty of forming a judgment as to all this is that it 

 takes place, though in a less degree, when there is no Eeeve 

 present, and again the excited prostrate or semi-prostrate attitude 

 passes into mere quiescence. It is most marked, on these occa- 

 sions, after a little pugnacious excitement amongst the Ruffs 

 generally, as when some have come down amongst those already 

 assembled, which always produces running about and general 

 enlivenment. Then, all at once, every bird may hug the ground 

 in this way. Still, both now and at other times when the Eeeves 

 were present, such special attitudes, with the excitement which 

 produced them — the whole thing, in fact — was by many degrees, 

 I think I may say, more marked than when there has been no 

 such stimulus. As yet — speaking only of this year — this has 

 not been the case with the actual fighting. Now, for instance, 

 there has at last been a really sustained, as well as very violent, 

 duel between two of the Ruffs. The birds fought most furiously, 

 kicking one another, hitting out with their wings, and seizing 

 one another with their bills. They separated several times, 

 one, when this happened, being generally worsted for the 

 moment, and pursued by the other, till, outdistancing him, he 

 turned, and, crouching, rushed furiously on him again. This 

 lasted, perhaps, some three or four minutes, and then ended by 

 mutual consent, perhaps through mutual exhaustion, for the 

 birds fought like demons — yet not harder, I think, than Coots, 

 and nothing like so long as I have seen these fight ; indeed, they 

 go on without pause or break, and with no diminution of energy, 



