SCOLOPACIDJE — THE SNIPE FAMILY — MACHETES. 
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Tringa equcstris, Lath. Ind. Orn. II. 1790, 730. 
Tringa grenovicensis, Lath. t.c. 731. 
Tringa variegata, Brunn. Orn. Bor. 54. 
Tringa planiceps and T. alticeps, Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. 
Ruff, Yark. Brit. B. ed. 2, II. 645, fig. ; ed. 3, II. 692, fig. ; et Auct. 
Hab. The Palsearctie Region, straying to Eastern North America (numerous records). 
Sp. Char. Above, varied with black, buff, and gray, the scapulars and tertials exhibiting these 
colors in oblique bands. P>eneath, white, varied on the jugulum and throat. Primaries dark 
brown, with greenish reflection above ; the inner webs finely mottled toward the base. Outer 
three tail-feathers plain, the remainder transversely barred. Bill brown ; sides of rump white ; 
Male. 
legs yellow. Male in spring dress with the feathers of the neck greatly developed into a ruff ; the 
face covered with reddish papillae. Adult male : Colors indeterminate, probably no two specimens 
being exactly alike. As a rule, the “cape” and “ruff” are differently colored ; thus, of the five 
examples before us, the cape and ruff are colored in the following manner : — Cape glossy black, 
buffy white, yellowish ochraceous. Ruff, chestnut-rufous, glossy black streaked with rufous, mot- 
tled ferruginous, ochraceous buff, streaked huffy white, and pied with black and pure white. 
Adult female : No ruff ; head completely feathered. Plumage transversely banded with black, and 
Female. 
buff, white, or ferruginous ; the abdomen and crissum usually immaculate white. Young: Back 
and scapidars brownish black, feathers bordered with buff or ochraceous ; crown ochraceous, 
streaked with black. Lower parts entirely immaculate, white posteriorly, buffy anteriorly. 
Length, about 10.00 inches: wing, 6.40 ; tail, 2.60 ; bill, 1.25 ; tarsus, 1.75 ; middle toe and 
claw, 1.40. 
The Ruff has been so frequently killed in the Eastern United States as to entitle it to a place 
among North American birds, although it cannot be said really to belong to our fauna. It is a 
very curious species, conspicuous for the combats among the males during the breeding-season. 
