GROUSE 151 



a Grouse, which has been the case with every other bird 

 supposed to have been the said cross that I have examined. 

 This instance, however, so fully carries out the natural 

 inferences that a naturalist would form in his mind of 

 what such a cross would resemble, that it must be 

 extremely difficult even for the most astute to give a 

 decided opinion as to what the specimen really is. 



Ptarmigan and Grouse, although at times found on the 

 same ground, notably in autumn and winter, have their 

 separate elevations to which they adhere more or less 

 closely as the season and weather permit ; but during the 

 spring, when pairing is going on, and the weather is fine, 

 Grouse are all mated and settled in the vicinity of their 

 nesting-places long before the Ptarmigan think of holding 

 their matutinal levee for similar purposes, for during this 

 season the two species keep very closely to their respective 

 homes and have therefore but little chance of meeting. 

 Before daybreak the Ptarmigan cocks descend to the verge 

 of the Grouse-ground to feed, but at this hour the Grouse 

 descend also, each working their way upwards on the 

 rising of the sun. 



Mr. J. Grant, of Glengrant, Rothes, N.B., kindly 

 informs me that there is an undoubted hybrid between the 

 Grouse and the Partridge in the possession of Mrs. Allan, 

 of Elgin, N.B. There were also two birds supposed to be 

 of this cross shot near Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland ; but in 

 neither case have I been able to trace their present resting- 

 place. Captain Hughes-Hallett, of my regiment, killed a 

 bird near Stirling, N.B., which he thought was one; but 

 eventually I discovered it in the possession of Mr. J. 

 Peacock Edwards, of Morningside, Edinburgh, when it 



