64 



THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



feather of the wing at its distal end. If blood can be squeezed from the quill 

 Wing it is considered as a sign that the bird is of the year. If no blood can 

 feathers. ^ e S q ueeze( j j an( j ne f ea ther is old and dry, it is considered as a 

 sign that the bird is more than a year old. 



Diagrammatic Representation of the Growth of Primaries in the Young Grouse. 



This reasoning is based upon the following facts : When the chick produces 

 its first set of primary wing feathers they are all very thin and weak, and soon 

 become frayed out ; they have rather narrow pointed ends, are blackish -brown, in 

 colour mottled with incomplete buff bars. Nine of these little feathers can be 



