THE PLUMAGE OF THE GROUSE 59 



on moors in a single county. As regards the white 

 type, though Mr. Millais distinguishes it as a separate 

 phase, I do not see how it is to be separated from 

 leucotism. Albinism i.e. the correlation of white 

 plumage andpink irides isanother question altogether. 

 Albino birds have often been obtained, but I have 

 never yet come across an albino grouse, though I have 

 heard of several white ones. Hut the white type of 

 plumage seems to be akin to leucotism, and I hardly 

 see how we can separate the two things. Many 

 grouse have the lower parts beautifully frosted with 

 white in winter. Sometimes white feathers appear 

 among those of the back. Not rarely do white 

 feathers crop out on the throat and breast. Birds 

 which have the flight feathers of the wings partially 

 or entirely white are obtained both in England and 

 Scotland from time to time. 1 More decided varieties 

 occur in which the ground colour of the plumage is 

 huffish or greyish-white or pale silvery, varied with 

 the usual characteristic markings in a subdued form. 

 Such birds have been obtained in Ireland, England 

 and Scotland. Mr. Millais considers that they arc 



1 I should feel very grateful to any reader who would send 

 us a white variety of the grouse for the Carlisle Museum at any 

 future time. Such a gift would, of course, be cased with the 

 donor's name attached to it, and should be addressed to myself, 

 or to The Curator, The Museum, Carlisle. 



