THE CHANGES OF PLUMAGE IN RED GROUSE 67 



August. Autumn plumage is still predominant, but the 

 new winter feathers are appearing, the old feathers of last 

 winter's plumage remaining on the abdomen are rapidly shed 

 and replaced. The new wing and tail feathers are completed. 

 The claws are being shed, and the legs are still bare. 



September. The autumn feathers, already very worn and 

 frayed, rapidly fall out, the breast and abdomen, wings and tail 

 have grown new winter feathers, but the upper parts are still 

 in transition ; the legs are beginning to get their winter 

 feathers. 



October and November. Winter plumage almost complete in 

 forward birds; flight feathers perfect; legs well feathered; 

 claws small. 



December. Full winter plumage with a few autumn feathers 

 on neck and back, which are retained till following summer. 



THE HEN GROUSE. 



January. Autumn or autumn- winter plumage. Throat and 

 fore-neck copper-red, but not so red as in the cock. Breast, 

 bright or dark red or black, flecked with white (see PI. vn.). 

 Back, chestnut, with black markings similar to the cock, but 

 with terminal spots of buff. The old broad-barred feathers of 

 the flanks are only found in backward birds. Legs and feet 

 well feathered, claws long and strong. 



February. Full autumn-winter plumage in forward birds, 

 a few spring feathers are appearing on the back of the 

 neck. 



March. The spring or breeding plumage begins to appear 

 in healthy birds. On the flanks broad-barred buff-and-black 

 feathers are conspicuous, the lower breast and abdomen still 

 retain the red-brown or red-black finely barred autumn-winter 

 feathers; but on the chin, throat, neck, and upper breast 

 forward birds show the broad-barred black-and-yellow feathers 

 of the summer plumage. In backward birds these parts are 

 still copper-red. The legs are less well feathered, but the claws 

 are long (see PI. vui.) 



