RUFF. 
441 
stand out on each side in a remarkable manner. The colour of this, 
as Avell 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 the 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.” 
