THE CHANGES OF PLUMAGE IN RED GROUSE 65 



up with them here and there are new feathers of the autumn 

 plumage coming, and here and there exceedingly old worn 

 feathers of the autumn plumage of the year before. One 

 example, an October hen, shows exceedingly well how the bare, 

 broody patch of the abdomen grows delayed broad-barred buff 

 and black feathers instead of the fine-barred darker autumn- 

 plumage feathers which surround the patch. These broad- 

 barred feathers appear in two parallel rows, breaking through 

 the skin of the broody patch on either side of the medial line ; 

 this growth is also well shown in a specimen at the British 

 Museum of Natural History. 



In November the chief alteration is the completion of the November, 

 autumn moult and the assumption of the autumn plumage. 

 The feathers of the upper parts have black middles, and are 

 barred with rufous-chestnut and ornamented with the character- 

 istic white or buff-coloured terminal spots. 



In December the hen is in full autumn-winter plumage. On December, 

 the legs and feet she is well and thickly feathered ; and on the 

 under side the chin and throat are dark red, as well as the fore- 

 neck, marked with broader black bars than upon the lower 

 breast and abdomen, where the marking is of the finer type, and 

 the colour distinctly of the redder and darker autumn plumage. 



The following is a brief summary of the principal changes 

 in the plumage of Grouse from January to December : 



THE COCK GROUSE. 



January. Full winter plumage. Breast, chestnut or reddish- 

 brown and black with fine black crosslines. Throat and fore- 

 neck, rich copper-red with little black edging to the feathers, 

 white moustachios, abdominal feathers often broadly marked 

 with white. Legs and feet, thickly feathered and white with 

 (sometimes) brownish barring, claws very long and strong 

 (see PL n. and in.). Back, uniform bright or dark chestnut or 

 blackish-brown with fine black transverse markings (see PL iv.). 

 Wings, flight feathers perfect, primary and secondary quills and 

 retrices (tail feathers) complete. 



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