RUFF. 



441 



stand out on each side in a remarkable manner. The colour of this, 

 as well as of other parts, varies so much, that scarce two birds are alike ; 

 in general the ruff is barred with black ; in others white, or plain brown ; 

 the upper parts in general are brown, more or less barred with undu- 

 lated lines of black ; lower belly, vent, and upper tail coverts white ; the 

 breast most frequently partakes of the same colour as the ruff ; quills 

 dusky ; the four middle tail feathers are barred with black, the rest 

 plain cinereous-brown ; legs yellow. 



This is the summer dress, for the ruff is only thrown out in the spring, 

 as well as the carunculated appearance on the face, both of which are lost 

 in the autumn. In young birds of the first year these are wanting, at 

 which time they are called stags ; and, as Mr. Pennant observes, might 

 be mistaken for a different species. But that author remarks that the 

 coverts of the wings, which are brown, inclining to ash-colour, and 

 colour of the tail, are invariable marks of distinction. 



The female, or Reeve, is less than tlie male : the upper parts are 

 brown ; the middle of each feather dusky ; the edges pale ; the greater 

 quills dusky ; secondaries barred rufous-brown and black ; belly, vent, 

 and upper tail coverts white ; tail dusky ; legs yellowish ; lays four 

 white eggs, marked with large ferruginous spots, which she deposits in 

 a tuft of grass. 



This species is very local with us ; it seems to be confined to the 

 fens of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire, 

 and the Isle of Ely. * Without doubt it leaves this country in the 

 autumn, with only a few exceptions, one of which occurred on the 

 27th of December, 1808 : it was shot near Slapton, on the south coast 

 of Devon, and presented to us by Mr. Holdsworth. Between this spe- 

 cimen and that which has been described as the Greenwich sandpiper, 

 there is only a trifling difference. 



The author of Rural Sports remarks that, " if observers had not 

 assured us that these birds came from the north, we might draw the 

 opposite inference, that they arrive from the south. It may therefore 

 be premised, (adds this author,) that it is the case with these as with 

 the woodcocks, which are said to come from the east, and return to the 

 west or south, but which in some countries only descend from the 

 mountains to the plains, and again return to the heights. It is even 

 probable, (continues this writer,) that the Ruffs remain in the same 

 country, only shifting to different parts of it as the season changes, 

 or perhaps may pass unobserved, intermixed with the dusky sandpipers, 

 or the horsemen, to which they have great analogy, after moulting in 

 June." 



