72 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



Yorkshire. More or less typical examples have also been obtained 

 from Ross-shire, Aberdeenshire, Morayshire, Kincardine, Stir- 

 ling, Fife, and Lancashire. At Newcastleton the low-lying 

 grassy moors are credited with the production of the black 

 type of Grouse, while the other types are found on the higher 

 heather ground. 



An example of the black type of cock Grouse is given in 

 PI. n. 



" The third or white-spotted form has the feathers of the 

 breast and belly, and sometimes those of the head and upper 

 parts, tipped with white. The most typical examples of this 

 variety are found, as a rule, on the high grounds of the north 

 of Scotland." l 



This statement is again confirmed by the Committee's 

 collection, although an occasional white-spotted bird makes its 

 appearance farther to the south. The most marked examples 

 of this white-spotted form have come from Caithness, Suther- 

 land, and Inverness, while Dumfries, Perthshire, and York- 

 shire have each provided one or two very fair examples. In 

 Easter Ross birds are said to be most commonly dark red or 

 black with white beneath. At Scrafton, Middleham, the 

 majority have white beneath, and all are dark red or bright 

 red ; still the predominance of white beneath is quite conspicuous 

 in a geographical arrangement of a large number of skins, 

 as a character of the north of Scotland, especially throughout 

 the Highlands. 



Turning next to the female Red Grouse, no less than five 

 distinct types are described by Mr Ogilvie-Grant : a red form, 

 a black form, a white-spotted form, a buff-spotted form, and a 

 buff-barred form. 



The difficulty in arranging hen Grouse into these classes 

 is that a single bird may fall under three headings at once. 

 A hen Grouse may be at once buff-spotted, white-spotted, and 

 red or black, for the white spotting is an independent character 

 and may occur on any type in the autumn plumage of the breast 



. * " Handbook to the Game Birds," p. 28. 



