RED GROUSE. 263 



Sternum is perforated to receive a process from the base of the 

 coracoids (fig. 7, A), and there are two deep notches on each 

 side of the posterior margin of the sternum (fig. 7, B). The 

 bill is short and stout, the upper mandible being arched and 

 overhanging the lower. The hind-toe is always present, but 

 varies in size and position. The feathers covering the body- 

 are provided with well-developed after-shafts. The nestlings are 

 hatched covered with down, and able to run a few hours after 

 their birth. The eggs, especially those of the smaller species, 

 are often numerous, and when spotted have only a single set of 

 surface marks, none of the pale underlying spots characteristic 

 of the Sand-Grouse, Hemipodes, and Wading Birds, being 

 found." (Grant, /.c.) 



THE GROUSE. FAMILY TETRAONID^. 



The hind-toe is raised above the level of the other toes ; the 

 nostrils are covered with feathers. The legs are more or less 

 covered with feathers, and there is no spur. The toes are also 

 mostly covered with feathers, but are sometimes naked and 

 pectinate, with a series of horny comb-like processes on each 

 side. (Cf. Grant, Ar. p. 26). 



THE TRUE GROUSE. GENUS LAGOPUS. 



Lagopus^ Briss. Orn. i. pp. 181, 216 (1760). 



Type, L. lagopus (Linn.). 



Mr. Grant characterises this genus by the dense feathering 

 on the feet and toes. The tail is moderately long, consisting 

 of sixteen feathers, the outer ones being nearly as long as the 

 middle pair. 



I. THE RED GROUSE. LAGOPUS SCOTICUS. 



Tetrao scoticus. Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 641 (1790); Seebohm, 



Hist. Brit. B. ii. p. 428 (1884). 

 Lagopus scotkus, Macgill. Brit. B. i. p. 169 (1837); Dresser, 



B. Eur. vii. p. 165, pi. 479 (1873); B.O. U. List. Brit. 



B. p. 144 (1883); Saunders, ed. Yarrell's Brit. B. iii. 



p. 73(1883); id. Man. Brit. B. p. 481 (1889); Lilford, 



