ON THE CHANGES OF PLUMAGE IN THE RED GROUSE 131 



material which has merely confirmed the already conclusive 

 evidence ; and though I have no fresh facts to add, I hope, 

 with the aid of the two coloured plates, to be able to point 

 out the various seasonal changes of plumage more clearly. 1 



Before attempting to deal with the various moults and 

 changes, it is necessary, in order to thoroughly understand 

 the subject, that we should say a few words regarding 

 individual variation, the Red Grouse being one of the most 

 variable birds in existence. The ordinary varieties of the 

 male may be divided into three distinct types of plumage : 

 a red form, a. black form, and a white-spotted form. The 

 first of these, in which the general colour is red (Plate V. 

 Fig. 8) without any white spots on the breast, is mostly to 

 be found on the low grounds of Ireland, the west coast of 

 Scotland, and the Outer Hebrides. Typical examples of the 

 second or black form (Plate V. Fig. 10) are rarely met with, 

 and are usually found mixed with either the red or white- 

 spotted forms, but most often with both, and specimens in a 

 mixed plumage are those most commonly met with. The 

 third or white-spotted form has the feathers of the breast 

 and belly, and sometimes those of the head and upper parts, 

 tipped with white. The most typical examples of this 

 variety are usually found on the high grounds of the north 

 of Scotland. 



In the female no less than five distinct types are recog- 

 nisable : the red, the black, the white-spotted, the buff-spotted, 

 and the buff-barred forms. The first two are the rarest, the 

 latter being extremely uncommon (Plate VI. Figs. 5 and 13); 

 the white-spotted form occurs as in the male ; the buff- 

 spotted form, which is much the commonest and that usually 

 met with, has the feathers of the upper parts spotted at the 

 tip with whitish buff (Plate VI. Figs. 2 and 3) ; the fifth, 

 or buff-barred form, is met with in the south of Ireland, and 

 resembles in winter (autumn plumage) (Plate VI. Fig. 4) the 

 ordinary female in breeding plumage, having the upper parts 

 coarsely barred with buff and black. I have been unable to 



1 As it was found necessary to have two plates to illustrate the principal 

 changes, moults, and varieties, Mr. Henry Seebohm most generously ordered the 

 second plate to be prepared at his expense. In this way I have been able to 

 devote a plate to each sex, and figure a much more complete series of feathers 

 than would otherwise have been possible. 



