362 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



ten in number, but occasionally as many as sixteen may 

 be found, probably the produce of two females. They 

 vary from yellowish-white to brownish-buff in ground 

 colour, spotted and blotched with reddish-brown of 

 various shades. The shell is rather rough and granu- 

 lated, but with some amount of polish. The spots are 

 always much more numerous than the blotches, which 

 are few (about the size of a pea) and often absent. 

 Average measurement, 2'0 inches in length, by r4 inch 

 in breadth. Incubation, performed by the female, lasts 

 about twenty-six days. 



Diagnostic characters : The size of the eggs of 

 the Black Grouse, their yellowish ground, and small 

 brown markings, readily distinguish them from those of 

 all other species breeding in our area. 



Family PIIASIANID.^. Genus Lagopus. 



Sub-family TETRAONINAi, 



RED GROUSE. 



Lagopus scoricus {Brisso?i). 



Single Brooded. Laying season, March to June, 

 according to locality and weather. 



British breeding area : East of an imaginary 

 line drawn from the mouth of the Severn to the upper 

 waters of the Number, the Red Grouse is unknown. 

 Its strongholds commence on the heaths of Wales, in 

 Glamorganshire, and continue northwards through the 

 moorlands of the Cambrian and Pennine mountain 

 systems to the Border. North of the latter it is widely 

 and generally distributed throughout Scotland as far 

 north as the Orkneys, and as far west as the Outer 

 Hebrides. Although not so common, it is equally 



