36 



in one species and not in the other ; and the nails are very dif- 

 ferent. It sometimes happens that a male bird assumes some of 

 the plumage like that of the female : Is his bird such an one ? 

 My bird, according to his opinion, should be a female hybrid, as 

 it is of the size of a Grey Hen only, but with a Black Cock's 

 tail. Now, if a female, why does the tail at all resemble that 

 of a male Black Grouse ? it should be intermediate between the 

 tail of a Grey Hen and a Hen Grouse. It strikes me the only 

 feature in these birds resembling the Red Grouse is the colour, 

 but even it much more resembles that of the Grey Hen ; the birds 

 are much freckled with grey, and have not much red, like an 

 old male Grouse ; but even if they had much red, many Grey 

 Hens have a considerable portion of rich reddish brown mixed 

 with their plumage. Are the hybrids between the Capercailie 

 and Black Grouse not all males, or nearly so ? I do not think I 

 remember seeing a female. These hybrids appear to have neither 

 the tail of one species nor the other, but a modified one, and the 

 individuals partake evenly of the peculiarities of each species in 

 size as well as colour. " Scrutator" will, I hope, pardon my 

 still not being convinced. I only wish to arrive at what is cor- 

 rect. C. M. A. 



SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE BREEDING PLACE 

 AND EGG OF THE KNOT, TRINGA CANUTUS. 



(Reprinted from the Transactions of the Natural Hixinnj Society 

 of Northumberland and Durham for 1877.) 



I HAVE wondered ever since the last Arctic expedition started 

 why this species was especially mentioned to be looked after, as 

 I think there are many others of which almost as little is known, 

 which breed in the Polar regions. 



I find amongst my ornithological memoranda, an extract 1 

 made in 1839, at "VVallington, from Captain SabincV account of 

 birds found at Melville Island and the North Georgian Islands 

 during Parry's voyage, which i> as follows: 



