$s . THE NATURAL HISTORY. 
{uppofed to be birds of a different fpecies ; for they 
are not alike in fhape, or in colour, or in the fize — 
of the ruff which they have upon their necks. 
It is very furprizing too, that this ruff, and the 
pimples upon their face, appear only in the ipring, 
_ alittle before the breeding feafon. 
In order to take them the fowler watches when 
they are bufy in fighting, and then catches them 
in his net. They are fattened upon bread and ~ 
milk; but to keep them quiet, they muft be con- 
fined in dark places, for fo foon as a lee ie 
light, they begin to fight. | 
“The ruff round the neck is not only an orna- 
‘ment to the males, but a defence befides. In fome 
‘itis grey, in fome reddifh, in fome white, and i in 
- fome of a deepifh violet. 
~ Towards the end of June they lofe their sil : 
and the pimples, The males then are not ean 
~ known from the females. - 
So foon as the Ruffs arrive in England, the 
cules collect together on fome dry bank, near a 
- fplath of water. Each male keeps pofleffion of a 
{mall piece of ground, he runs round it until all 
the grafs be worn quite away, and only a naked 
circle is left. When they are kept in a room, 
each male takes its and jh in the fame manner, 
and. 
‘ 
