JJESCRIITIOX. IL'.S 



ties at a height of 2,U0U feet above the level of the 

 sea. The case is quite diflercnt in the western part of 

 Norway to the north of Stadt (62°). It breeds, for 

 instance, in great numbers in Smolen — situated about 

 fifteen (English) miles to the north of Christiansund — ■ 

 a large flat, marshy island, about fifty (English) miles in 

 circumference, which is destitute of trees, and the highest 

 part of which does not reach an altitude of 400 .feet 

 above the sea-level. The vegetation on these islands 

 lying out at sea, and denuded of trees, is analogous 

 to that found in the alpine ranges, and such places 

 are therefore chosen by the Dal-Ripa." 



The Professor adds in a subsequent letter, in reply to 

 inquiries of mine : " It is quite certain that this bird 

 sometimes selects for its abode localities that are far 

 removed from the liigher movxutain ranges. That it 

 nests sparingly in the upper portion of what is strictly 

 called the ])me region, is undoubted; but its proper 

 breeding-grounds are higher up; viz., in the birch 

 region {regio betulina), and in lower portions of the 

 willow region." 



The Dal-Eipa has the short thick bill characteristic of 

 the genus Tetrao, with the upper mandible convex and^, 

 arched. There is a naked red skin above the eye, and the 

 legs are plumed. The length of the male is from six- 

 teen to seventeen inches, and breadth from tip to tip of 

 the wings twenty-four to twenty-five inches. The female 

 is somewhat smaller than the male. 



As will be seen by the accompanying illustration, the 

 neck and breast of the male, when in its full spring dress, 

 which it does not acquire until near Midsummer, is of a 

 reddish-brown, the back dark-brown, the quill feathers 

 and part of the under surface of the body, as also the 

 legs, white. The plumage of the female is somewhat like 

 that of the male, l)ut of a paler colour, often inclining 



