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 The Ruff and Reeve. Avis pugnax. /p/aLjrA^% 



Numb. LXXII, and LXXIII. 



ITS Length from the Tip of the Bill to the End of the Tail is twelve 

 Inches and a half; Breadth when the Wings are extended twenty five 

 Inches ; Weight fix Ounces ; its Bill is one Inch and a half long, of a yel- 

 low Colour ; the fore-part of the Head is of a dufky cinereous Colour 

 fpotted with red ; the upper part of the Ruff and Top of the Head is of a 

 pale buff Colour, and the under part black, as is alfo the Breaft ; the lower 

 part of the Belly and Thighs are white ; the Back and covert Feathers of the 

 Wings, and feveral of the quill Feathers next the Body, are of a pale 

 cinereous Colour fpotted with black, and the firft five or fix prime Fea- 

 thers of the Wings are all black. The Legs three Inches and a half to the 

 Knee are of an Orange Colour, and bare of Feathers more than halfway above 

 Joint; the back Toe fmall, the Claws black, and almofl fli eight: In the 

 Plumage of the Cocks there is fuch a wonderful and almofl infinite Vari- 

 ety in their Colours, that in Spring Time there can fcarce be found 

 any two exadlly alike, but after Midfummer, when they have moulted 

 their Feathers, they fay they become all alike again. The Length of the 

 Female is nine Inches and a half; Breadth nineteen Inches; they are of a 

 dark brown on the Head, Neck, Back and Wings fpotted with black ; 

 the Belly and Thighs are white ; the Legs and Feet are of an Orange 

 Colour ; They never change their Colours ; their Stomach within is 

 yellow, and the Gall large. They breed in Summer in the Fens of 

 Lh: cohjhire 2ho\\t Crowland; they are fatted with white Bread and Milk, 

 being fhut up in clofe dark Rooms ; for if you let them fee the Light, they 

 prefently fall a fighting, never giving over till the one has killed the other. 

 The Fowlers when they fee them intent upon fighting, fpread their Nets 

 over them, and catch them before they are aware. The Hens never have 

 any Ruffs, neither have the Cocks any immediately after moulting Time : 

 When they begin to moult, white Tumours break out about their Eyes 

 and Head. I had twelve of the Cocks brought to me, and every one va- 

 ried from the other in their Colours. 



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