GAME-BIRDS. 33 
(173), from the prairies of the United States, remarkable for the long 
tuft of feathers on each side of the neck in the male, and the Sharp-tailed 
Grouse (Pediwcetes phasianellus) (115), from the wooded districts and 
tundras that border the British North-American lakes, are both well 
known American gamb-birds, and occasionally forwarded in a frozen state 
tothe London market. Another handsome North-American species is 
the Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) (171), with a frilled ruffle of 
fan-shaped feathers on each side of the neck. Closely allied we have 
the Hazel-hens (Telrastes), of which two or perhaps three species are 
known from Europe and Northern and Central Asia. The common 
Hazel-hen or Gelinotte (7. bonasia) (178), which inhabits the lower 
pine-forests and birch-woods of the mountainous districts of Europe and 
North and Ceutral Asia, is greatly esteemed as an article of food, its 
flesh being white and delicate, and large numbers are frozen and imported 
from Scandinavia and Russia to the London market. Other well-known 
North American genera are the American Capercaillies or Dusky 
Grouse (Dendragapus) (111) and the Canadian Grouse (Canachites) 
(172), found in the dense thickets and evergreen woods of the middle 
and higher mountain-ranges. 
The two species of Black Grouse exhibited are the only known 
members of the genus Lyrurus. Though evidently closely allied, a 
remarkable difference is presented in their life-history. In the male of 
the common Black Grouse (L. ¢etria’) (179) the young bird attains the 
black plumage of the adult more or less perfectly at the first autumn- 
moult, only a few of the feathers of the back retaining a mottled brown 
appearance. The young male of the Caucasian Black Grouse 
(L. mlokosiewiczi) (180) assumes a barred plumage at the first autumn 
moult, most nearly resembling that of the adult female, and this is 
retained till the second moult or possibly longer, the young male 
exhibited having been shot on the 14th of May. 
During the heavy autumn-moult, which takes place in July and 
August, the old males of the common Black Grouse, commonly called 
Black Cock, are entirely devoid of tails and generally incapable of flying 
more than a few yards at most. At this season a temporary plumage like 
that of the female (Grey Hen) clothes the head and neck, and the throat 
becomes more or less white. This intermediate plumage is no doubt pro- 
tective, for the black head and neck of the male are conspicuous objects, 
while the rufous-buff feathers with their black bars and marks harmonise 
perfectly with the surrounding objects and enable the defenceless birds to 
escape observation. The barred feathers of the head and neck are not 
east and replaced by black ones till the rest of the plumage has been 
renewed, and the bird is once more able to fly. 
Interesting wild hybrids between Black Grouse and Red Grouse 
D 
[Case 18.] 
