




















 « THE NATURAL HISTORY 
{uppofed to be birds of a different fpecies ; for they 
are not alike in fhape, or in colour, or in the fig} 
of the ruff which they have upon their necks, 
It is very furprizing too, that this ruff, and th 
pimples upon their face, appear only in the {pring 
a little before the breeding feafon. 
In order to take them the fowler watches wher 
they are bufy in fighting, and then catches then 
in his net.- They are fattened upon bread aml 
-milk; but to keep them quiet, they mutt be cop, 
fined in dark places, for fo foon as they fee 
light, they begin to fight. | 
_ The ruff round the neck is not only an orn 
ment to the males, but a defence befides. Inf 
it is grey, in fome reddifh, in fome white, andj 
fome of a deepifh violet. 
Towards the end of June they lofe their 
and the pimples. The males then are note 
known from the females. 
So foon as the Ruffs arrive in England, 
mates colleé&t together on fome dry bank, nex 
fplath of water. Each male keeps poflefond} 
{mall piece of ground, he runs round it untild 
the grafs be worn quite away, and only a : 
circle is left. When they are kept in a 
each male takes its ftand juft in the fame 

