RUFF. 443 



with difficulty ; for few, if any birds, are ever bought, but by those 

 who make a trade of fatting- them for the table ; and they sedulously 

 conceal the abode of the fowlers ; so much so, that by no art could we 

 obtain from any of them where they resided ; and in order to deceive us, 

 after evading our entreaties, they gave us instructions that led us quite 

 a contrary direction. The reason of all this was obvious ; for after much 

 labour and search, in the most obscure places, (for neither the inn- 

 keepers, nor other inhabitants of the towns, could give any information, 

 and many did not know such a bird was peculiar to their fens,) we 

 found out a very civil and intelligent fowler, who resided close to Spald- 

 ing, at Fen-gate, by name William Burton, (we feel a pleasure in re- 

 cording his name, not only from his obliging nature, but for the use of 

 others in similar pursuits ;) and, strange to say, that although this man 

 had constantly sold Ruffs to Mr. Towns, a noted feeder, hereafter more 

 particularly noticed, as also to another feeder, at Cowbit, by the name 

 of Weeks, neither of those persons could be induced to inform us even 

 of the name of this fowler. The reason, however, was evident, and 

 justly remarked by Burton, for he obtained no more than ten shillings 

 per dozen, whereas Weeks demanded thirty shillings for the like num- 

 ber he had the same day bought of Burton. The season was far ad- 

 vanced, and we were obliged to buy some at that price of Weeks, for 

 Burton could not then catch us as many as were required. 



At this time we were shewn into a room where there were about 

 seven dozen males and a dozen females, and of the former there were 

 not two alike. This intrusion to choose our birds, drove them from 

 their stands, and compelling some to trespass upon the premises of 

 others, produced many battles. 



By this feeder we learned, that two guineas a dozen was now the 

 price for fattened Ruffs; and he never remembered the price under 

 thirty shillings, when fit for table. 



Mr. Towns, the noted feeder at Spalding, assured us his family had been 

 a hundred years in the trade, and boasted that they had served George 

 the Second, and many noble families in the kingdom. He undertook, 

 at the desire of the late Marquis of Townsend, when that nobleman 

 was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to take some Ruffs to that country ; 

 and actually set off with twenty-seven dozen, from Lincolnshire; left 

 seven dozen at the Duke of Devonshire's, at Chatsworth ; continued 

 his route across the kingdom, to Holyhead ; and delivered seventeen 

 dozen alive in Dublin ; having lost only three dozen in so long a journey, 

 confined and greatly crowded as they were in baskets, which were car- 

 ried upon two horses. 



