370 NATURAL SCIENCE [June 



A New Hybrid Geouse 



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The irregular alliances contracted by the Tetraonidac have long 

 afforded interest to students of the European game-birds. Even in 

 Great Britain we meet with hybrids between the Black and Red 

 Grouse, the Black Grouse and Capercailzie, and the Pheasant and 

 Black Game, while in recent years the interbreeding of the Caper- 

 cailzie with the common Pheasant of our Scottish coverts has been 

 proved beyond all shadow of doubt. But it is in Northern Europe 

 that the birds of this family are commonly recognised as prone to 

 lapse from strict virtue and produce mule offspring, usually the 

 hybrids between the Capercailzie and Blackcock, called ' Rackel- 

 Fogel ' in Sweden. The latter species occasionally mates success- 

 fully with the Willow Grouse ; indeed, the interbreeding of these 

 two species was pointed out by a Norwegian naturalist as long ago 

 as 1795, and, at a later date, received a careful investigation at the 

 hands of Prof. R. Collett. This fact increases the importance 

 of the brief report which that distinguished naturalist has now 

 drawn up upon a hybrid between the lilackcock [Tctrao tetrix) and 

 Ptarmigan {Lagojyus mutus), and published in Bcrgcns Museums 

 Aarhog for 1897. The specimen in question was secured in 

 1896 by the Bergen Museum, which previously contained other 

 hybrids of great interest. We refer especially to a hybrid between 

 the Willow Grouse and Capercailzie, acquired in 1889, and de- 

 scribed by Mr J. A. Greig, whose paper was accompanied by a 

 photograph of this remarkable specimen (cf. Bergens Museums 

 Aarsheretning for 1889, No. 5). 



Mammals of Norway 



Another valuable paper that we have received from Prof. Collett is 

 the third instalment of his " Remarks on Norway's Mammal-fauna," 

 and deals with the years 1882-1897. (Nj/t. Mag. for Naturvidens- 

 Jcaherne, vol. xxxvi. pp. 264-374.) 



This memoir contains a clear and concise account of the forty- 

 seven species of indigenous and three of introduced mammals which 

 occur at the present time in Norway. The subject-matter is well 

 arranged, the paragraphs on habits interesting but not over-lengthened, 

 details of measurements are given, fortunately in millimetres, and the 

 nomenclature (except in one or two trilling cases) is up to date — a 

 recommendation which we had almost ceased to look for in local 

 faunas. Altogether, we have little but praise to offer to this Fauna, 

 and we can only regret that the language in which it is written must 

 make it a closed book to many English naturalists. 



The mammals of Norway must always be of interest to a wide 

 circle of readers, since in that country the sportsman may still find 



