GROUSE 145 



the bird have become white and the black markings grey. 

 More often the feathers assume only a semi- discoloration, 

 and the reds and blacks of the plumage become yellow and 

 brown ; or the bird's natural garb is sprinkled with only a 

 few of the pure white feathers. These latter are not 

 uncommon, and I know of one shooting, near Aniulree 

 in Perthshire, where for many years there has been a 

 race of birds with white primaries in their wings. But 

 of pure varieties one will see but very few ; and during 

 the last fifteen years, in looking over the autumn stock 

 of the London and Scotch naturalists, I do not think I 

 have seen more than six good varieties in any one 

 year. And at least four-fifths of these are of a buff 

 colour. 



Of the perfectly black variety I have only seen two 

 examples : one having been killed near Perth, and now in 

 the Perth Natural History Museum, and the other, which 

 is the handsomest variety of the Grouse I have come 

 across, was shot near Kincraig, Inverness-shire, October 

 1889. (See page 142.) 



The cream-coloured and buff varieties, especially 

 amongst young birds, are the commonest, whilst the 

 perfectly black are the rarest. 



An amusing incident happened to a friend of mine, 

 who is an enthusiastic collector of rarities of all sorts, 

 and albinos in particular. His keeper came running into 

 the house one morning to inform him that he had seen a 

 Grouse on the hills with a pure white back. Great was 

 his excitement, and securing his gun and a few cartridges 

 he proceeded to scour his little moor, where birds were 

 few and far between at the best of times. With great 



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