308 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



bird of passage in France and England. Its flesh is good, but not 

 equal to that of the Plover. 



The Ruff (Philomachus pugnax. Plates VIII. and IX.) commends 

 itself to the attention of the observer by the sudden metamorphosis 

 it undergoes in May, which seems to revolutionise its entire nature. 

 At this season he plumage of the Ruff, which has hitherto been 

 grave and almost sombre, suffers a most brilliant transformation. 

 On the top of its head, to the right and left, two graceful plumes 

 come forth, which vastly improve its looks, and contribute in no 

 small degree to the stateliness of its carriage. Brilliant hues of 

 yellow, white, and black, arranged in a hundred ever-varying shades, 

 combined, thus making them most attractive to the eye. 



This physical transformation produces a change in the temper of 

 the bird. Puffed up with pride, and elated at its own personal mag- 

 nificence, our hero suddenly finds itself subject to the most warlike 

 feelings, and when a rival catches its sight, without hesitation it 

 rushes immediately to meet the stranger, who, nothing loth, charges 

 in return at the top of his speed. With stretched-out beak and crest 

 erect, the two adversaries impetuously close. A furious duel takes 

 place, carried on in the sight of the feebler sex, who approve of the pro- 

 ceedings, possibly giving praise or blame and, by a cry at judicious 

 moments reanimates the failing ardour of the gallant combatants. 

 Fierce blows with the beak follow one another in quick succession, 

 blood soon flows, and the arena is stained with gore, until at 

 last the two weary champions roll over in the dust, and lay side by 

 side completely exhausted. During two or three months these duels 

 are of frequent occurrence, and cannot fail to leave numerous gaps 

 in the ranks of the species. 



In the beginning of August their rich vestments gradually disap- 

 pear, and the warlike fever as rapidly abates. The Ruff now becomes 

 a commonplace bird of peaceful habits, with no other aspiration but 

 that of searching for worms and insects on the shores of the ocean. 



The Ruff soon gets accustomed to living in captivity. In Eng- 

 land, where they were formerly very numerous, and in Holland, where 

 they are still probably so, Ruffs are reared and fattened for the table. 

 They must, however, be kept in the dark during the breeding season, 

 to prevent them from giving way to their turbulent tempers, which 

 blaze out on the slightest excitement. 



These birds inhabit the northern and temperate countries of 

 Europe and Asia ; in France they are common on the north and 

 north-west coast of the Channel. In spring they select moist and 

 marshy meadows for their abode, where they lay their eggs, four 



