64 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



forward hens there is still a mixture of old and new plumage, 

 and the scapulars are often faded to something like black and 

 white, and are badly frayed at the ends. The wings have now 

 almost completed their moult, but there may still be a primary 

 or two to change, even in very forward birds. The legs and 

 feet are rapidly becoming feathered for the winter, though in 

 backward birds which have been sick they are still quite bare, 

 and now, of course, this feature may truly be taken to be a 

 sign of sickness and disease, though in a convalescing bird. 



In October one may find a very backward bird with as many 

 as three worn-out primaries in either wing to change ; but, 

 as a rule, the wing is perfect, the primaries and secondaries 

 and their coverts all completely new, and in the tail the rectrices 

 are full grown. The legs and feet are now also fully feathered, 

 though the thickness of the growth increases as the winter 

 cold comes on. On the back the bird now looks fresh and 

 richly coloured from head to tail, but a close search will always 

 disclose a number of spring-plumage feathers which have still 

 to be thrown off. Underneath, the rich red-copper colour is 

 gradually replacing all the previous buff on the chin and throat. 

 The change " hangs fire " a little on the neck and upper breast, 

 but it is still progressing, whereas on the lower breast and belly 

 the rich red or darker winter plumage with its beautiful fine 

 black crosslines and pure white flecks is a very striking feature. 



There are, in the Committee's collection of skins, a number 

 of examples showing the result of disease in deferring the moult ; 

 many of these birds, even in October and November, have failed 

 to get rid of the old, faded and completely worn-out spring 

 plumage. The majority of these birds have been so diseased 

 in spring that they have not bred at all. The ovaries have 

 throughout the season shown no development, and there are 

 no signs, even in the earlier months, of the shedding or develop- 

 ment of ova or of any increase in size of the oviduct. They 

 have been true barren hens. In some cases there appear, in 

 October, feathers of three separate plumages. There are the 

 faded spring-plumage feathers of the current year, but mixed 



