THE FEATHERED GAME OF NORWAY. 167 



tween the black cock and the roy. The characteristic 

 marks of either species are readily distinguishable in 

 the hybrid'. 



The GROUSE* (Skov-rype) is, according to Nor- 

 wegian naturalists, the same bird as the red grouse 

 of the British Isles, the difference of plumage being 

 only occasioned by the climate. I believe that Mr. 

 Gould entertains the same opinion, f 



Whether this circumstance is of itself sufficient to 

 constitute a separate species, I do not feel competent to 

 discuss ; but I believe that in the case of humming- 

 birds, species are frequently distinguished with reference 

 to the colour of the plumage only. 



The grouse in Norway commences to change colour 

 in the spring, when the neck and half the breast assume 

 a reddish hud. In winter the whole of the bird is 

 white, and it may be remarked that the ' pinnae ' are 

 always white. Low scrub on the mountain-sides is the 

 usual sort of ground for finding them. On some of the 

 islands off the north-western coast they are extremely 

 abundant. As they are in every respect exactly similar 

 to the red grouse, the colour of the plumage alone 

 excepted, it is needless to speak further about them. I 

 would, however, strongly recommend any one who takes 



* It may be remarked that wherever ryper have been mentioned 

 in the above pages, this species has been intended. 



t I perceive, from a correspondent in the ' Field,' that the British 

 grouse has been introduced into Sweden ; so that in lapse of time a 

 solution of the question may be expected. 



