THE HYBRID GROUSE. 593 
“TIT. Because hybrids between the Blackeock and the 
Willow-Grouse are also found. 
“TV. Because the Hybrid Cock has never been found in 
any districts except those in which both Capercaillie and 
Blackgame occur, and there only where the cock Capercaillies 
have been so shot down as to be almost exterminated.” 
Nilsson further declaims against those naturalists, especially 
Brehm, who seek to elevate Tetrao medius to specific rank, 
and mentions the following interesting fact in the course of 
his remarks :—‘ There is also another important difficulty 
which I must take into account: in Germany Capercaillie are 
much more plentiful than Blackgame; in Scandinavia, on the 
contrary, the proportion is exactly reversed, for here one can, 
on the whole, reckon that there are ten to twenty, or even 
thirty, head of Blackgame to every Capercaillie.” This, I 
may add, is the case in most parts of Bohemia, especially in 
those where Hybrid Cocks have hitherto been observed to be 
most numerous, but in the Alps it is just the other way, and 
how rare are the hybrids there ! 
On the ground which afforded the two Hybrid Cocks, another 
was killed two years ago from a screen at the drumming- 
place of the Blackeock, all the rest while drumming by 
themselves in the wood; and now and then one of this year’s 
birds appears among the Blackgame, disturbing them very 
much in their love-affairs. 
The two that were killed in the same neighbourhood in 
1879 and 1880 are typical specimens of the true Hybrid Cock, 
with the black beak, much feathered feet, violet sheen on the 
breast, outer tail-feathers somewhat curved, &. &e. Those 
of the present year constitute two new forms, and immediately 
after they were shot I jotted down the following notes. 
Specimen A. 
Beak large, yellowish grey. Neck dark blue, passing 
into a violet sheen on the breast. Underparts dark, with a 
2Q 
