VOL. VI.] THE BRITISH BLACK GROUSE. 271 



above the white tips than those of the Scandinavian 

 bird, in which the rufous-brown is often restricted to a 

 fine hne above the black bars. (G) The black bars on the 

 under tail-coverts of the British form are narrower than 

 those on the same feathers of Scandinavian birds : in 

 twelve specimens of each form they measure in width — 

 British, 3 to 6 millimetres, average 4.5 ; ^Scandinavian, 

 (> to 8 millimetres, average 7. (7) The white at the base 

 of the secondaries of the British form is usually less 

 extensive than in the Scandinavian. The wing of the 

 British form also averages very slightly shorter than 

 in the Scandinavian : in t^\'elve specimens of each they 

 measure — British, 214 to 230 mm., average 221.5 mm. ; 

 Scandinavian, 230 to 238 mm., average 229 mm. 



In the nfiaU we can detect no constant character to 

 differentiate it from the Scandinavian form, though the 

 wing appears to be generall}^ rather smaller. 



Type, $ : 8.xii.l910 : Thornhill, Dumfriesshire : 

 H. S. Gladstone. No. 483/10 in Witherby coll. 



It is interesting to note that in this form, as is the 

 case in other British races, the colours are more diffused 

 — less sharply contrasted — 'than in the Continental bird 

 which gives the British form a duller appearance. 



Witherby has compared sixteen British Greyhens and 

 thirteen Scandinavian. He is greatly indebted to Lord 

 William Percy and Mr. H, S. Gladstone for generously 

 providing him with a number of specimens from Aln- 

 wick, Northumberland, and Capenoch, Dumfriesshire^ 

 respectively. Both of these gentlemen assure him that 

 Scandinavian Blackgame have not been introduced on 

 their shootings. This is a most important point to make 

 sure of in comparing British killed birds, as unfortunately 

 Scandinavian Blackgame have been introduced in many 

 parts of Great Britain. Witherby is also much indebted 

 to Professor R. Collett for loaning him skins and for 

 helping to procure specimens from Norway. Varieties, 

 are plentiful in collections, but very few normal examples 

 seem to have been preserved ! 



