152 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



short soft feathers of greyish-white ; claws long and 

 horn colour, dark at the base. 



The female is somewhat smaller and of a lighter 

 rufous-brown. The membrane over her eye is 

 narrower and less conspicuous. Both male and 

 female are subject to considerable variation in 

 plumage. I have seen some hens a beautiful 

 golden-yellow, and both sexes often showing a 

 considerable amount of white in their plumage. 



YOUNG RED GROUSE. 



Situation and Locality. A slight hollow or natu- 

 ral depression, generally well hidden by heather or 

 ling, occasionally amongst rushes or long coarse grass 

 on wild moors in Wales, the six northern counties 

 of England, and Derbyshire, Cheshire, Shropshire 

 and Stafford, also in every county of Scotland, ex- 

 cepting perhaps one, and in suitable parts of Ireland. 



Materials. A few heather or ling shoots, or 

 bits of bent grass. 



Eggs. Five to nine ; as many as thirteen to 

 fifteen have been found. Of a dirty white ground- 

 colour, thickly blotched and spotted with umber- 

 brown. Variable in regard to colour and markings, 



