39° 



GROUSE 



( Vaccmium and others) that, often thickly interspersed with -willows 

 and birches, clothes the higher levels or the lower mountain-slopes, 

 and it contrives to flourish in the New World where heather 

 scarcely exists, and a " heath " in its strict sense is unknown. It 

 is true likewise that the Willow-Grouse always becomes white in 

 winter, which the Red Grouse never does ; but then we find that 

 in summer there is a considerable resemblance between the two 

 species, the cock Willow-Grouse having his head, neck, and breast 

 of the same rich chestnut-brown as his British representative, 

 and, though his back be lighter in coloiir, as is also the whole 

 plumage of his mate, than is found in the Red Grouse, in other 



Rv.v C;rousk. 



respects than those named above the two species are j^recisely alike. 

 No distinction can be discovered in their voice, their eggs, their 

 build, nor in their anatomical details, so far as these have been 

 investigated and compared. In connexion too Avith this matter it 

 should not be overlooked that the Red Grouse, restricted as is its 

 range, varies in colour not inconsiderably, and game -dealers of 

 experience assert that they are able to pronounce at sight the 

 native district of almost any bird that comes to their hands.^ 



1 A very interesting subject for discussion would be whether Lago]ni,s scoticus 

 or L. albus has varied most from the common stock of both. I can here but 

 briefly indicate the more salient points that might arise. Looking to the fact 

 that the former is the only species of the genus which does not assume white 

 clothing in winter, an evolutionist might at iirst deem the variation greatest in 

 its case ; but then it must be borne in mind that the species of Lagojms which 



