124 the birds of cumberland. 



Genus ORTYX. 



O. Virginianus. Virginian Colin.* 



The Virginian Colin is an acclimatised species. 

 It has not been introduced into Cumberland, but 

 stragglers from other counties have occurred in two 

 separate instances. One, shot near AUonby, some 

 years since, is in the Mann collection. A second, 

 obtained in the Carlisle district, is preserved by 

 Mr. Little. 



Family TETRAONID^. 

 Genus LAGOPUS. 

 L. Scoticus. Red Grouse. 



The Red Grouse is an abundant resident, 

 breeding on all the higher grounds, where suitable 

 stretches of heather prevail, from the Bewcastle hills 

 to the Lancashire border. Large packs descend to 

 the lower mosses in early winter. A single straggler 

 recently appeared on the cliffs at St. Bees Head 

 {H. Noit, MS.) A male hybrid between this species 

 and the Black Grouse, believed to have been shot 

 in Cumberland, is preserved in the possession of 

 T. H. Horrocks, Esq., of Edenbrows, Carlisle. 



Pied birds are shot occasionally, and a jDretty, 

 spangled, yellow variety sometimes makes its ap- 

 pearance in the Alston district, and on the borders of 

 Cumberland and Westmorland.! Messrs. J. Walton 

 and Sawer have good specimens of this variety. 



+ A gi'eyish buff variety was shot near Alston in 1878. Two Grouse of a 

 "nearly white" variety "mottled with brown, was shot on the Appleby 

 moors in 1883. (P. Z. S., 1884, p. 45.) 



