434 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



long tapeworm in the intestines ; but he did not detect the smaller para- 

 sitic worm. 



The Red Grouse has often been kept in confinement, and has even been 

 known to breed under such conditions. Hybrids between the present 

 species and other game birds are extremely rare. It has been known to 

 interbreed with the Black Grouse, and possibly with the Ptarmigan. 



The general colour of the adult male Red Grouse in spring plumage is 

 chestnut-brown, most of the feathers being barred, vermiculated, and 

 speckled with black. There are obscure indications of a moustachial 

 stripe; the axillaries and under wing-coverts are nearly white; and the 

 feathers on the belly, legs, and feet are greyish white. Bill and claws 

 brownish black ; irides hazel ; over each eye is a brilliant scarlet wattle. 

 In the female the chestnut-brown is replaced by buffish brown, and the 

 wattles over the eye are much smaller and duller in colour. The autumn 

 plumage scarcely differs from that of summer ; but birds of the year may 

 be distinguished by the pale tips to most of the feathers, causing them to 

 appear much more distinctly spotted. Young in down are buffish yellow 

 mottled with chestnut- brown. 



There is considerable individual variation in the colour of the plumage 

 in this species ; and many writers have endeavoured to show that this 

 variation is local ; but the balance of evidence in this, as in many other 

 similar cases, is in favour of the supposition that we are dealing with 

 climatic and not geographical races. 



