48 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



with black only on the actual chin. Here there may be also 

 more or less of white tippings, even to the formation of two 

 white moustachios leading downwards from the gape, some- 

 times an inch in length. This may be a feature either of the 

 black type or of the red 1 (Pis. n. and in.). In some very red 

 and black Red Grouse the abdominal feathers are also freely 

 and broadly tipped with white ; and this may sometimes be 

 seen even on the feathers of the upper parts. The legs and feet 

 in this month are thickly feathered, and are white, or white 

 with brownish barring. The claws are usually very long and 

 strong. Occasionally a pale bleached feather of the preceding 

 " autumn plumage " is to be found on the flanks, middle of 

 the breast, or neck, and may be recognised by its frayed edges ; 

 and in a very backward bird, where there are many such worn 

 and faded feathers on the chest and flanks, this is invariably 

 the result of sickness. Turning now to the back we find a 

 general uniformity of chestnut, bright or dark, or of blackish 

 feathers, with fine black transverse markings ; but again in 

 almost every bird there may be found a considerable number 

 of the old black-centred " autumn plumage " feathers remain- 

 ing, with their frayed and faded edges of whitish-buff (PI. iv.). 

 On the lower back and rump the more worn and faded feathers 

 predominate. The primary and secondary quills are complete, 

 but only a few months old, having been renewed between June 

 and August ; and the same may be said of the tail feathers. 



The following points in the cock Grouse of January are 

 characteristic : 



(1) The rich copper-red, generally unbarred feathers of the 



throat and fore-neck. 



(2) The fine barring of the chestnut, dark rufous-chestnut, 



or blackish-brown of the back, with the scattered 

 back-centred feathers of the last " autumn plumage." 



(3) The thick white feathering of the feet and legs, which 



1 The whole chapter deals with the Red Grouse (Lay<>j>tis smticus Lath.)- The 

 terms "black Red Grouse" and "buff-spotted or white-spotted Red Grouse" must 

 not be confused with similar terms for other species of Grouse. 



