RUFF. 
Pavoncella pugnax. 
Char. Upper parts variable, but usually mottled black, chestnut, buff, 
and gray; lower back dark brown, with margin of chestnut or buff, wings 
and tail dusky brown; neck and breast buff; belly dull white. During 
the mating season — May and June — the male drops the feathers from 
the sides of the face, and reddish warts appear there j at this time, also, 
he wears a shield-like erectile ruff, — whence the name. Length about 
1 2 inches. 
Ntst. On a dry knoll in a swamp in the midst of a clump of coarse 
grass or sedges ; a slight depression lined with dead grass. 
Eggs. 4; pale olive or olive gray, spotted with reddish brown; 1.60 
X I. 15 - 
The Ruff is a distinctly European species, — it is rare on the 
British Isies, — but so many examples have been taken on this 
Jl 
