178 GAME BIRDS AND SHOOTING-SKETCHES 



make their appearance. These first show on the 

 back and flanks of the birds, and gradually 

 increase till by the end of the month both male 

 and female have an equal proportion of both 

 old and new feathers. The feet are by this 

 time quite fully covered, the feathers having 

 been gradually growing since the beginning of 

 August. 



November. A few of the old feathers of the autumn 

 remain on the back, and one or two on the head. 

 Those on the back have, by the 15th of this 

 month, become so pale that the small black 

 markings across them can hardly be discerned, 

 but those on the head and neck do not fade 

 much. At this season most of the birds will 

 have cast the last of these old feathers, and 

 will stand complete in their new winter dress, 

 in which they continue until the end of Feb- 

 ruary. 



December. The different plumages noted in the 

 preceding month may be more or less normal, 

 but during this month many birds, especially 

 the cocks, retain throughout the winter a large 

 amount of the autumn feathers on the back. 

 One that I received on December 31, 1890, from 

 West Ross-shire, is figured as an example of this, 

 and may be taken as a typical specimen, though 

 somewhat dark. In December the average of 

 pure white birds is about one in four, but in 

 severe winters they vary materially, and all the 

 birds may be pure white. 



