270 



LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



all the feathers being widely barred with black and yellowish- 

 buff by the beginning of May (pi. iii. fig. 12). 



" As will be easily understood, these being conspicuous parts 

 of the bird when she is sitting on her eggs, it is most important 

 for her that the protective black and buff plumage should be 

 complete. The greater part of this change is generally pro- 

 duced by moult ; but, as is the case with the flank-feathers, 

 some individuals (probably less robust females) attain the 

 change without moulting. The same rearrangement of the 

 pigment described in speaking of the flanks takes place in the 

 chest-feathers, and the finely mottled and barred, rufous and 

 black, autumn plumage becomes widely barred with black and 

 buff." 



Young Birds in July resemble the adult female in breeding 

 plumage in their general colour, but the flank-feathers of the 

 adult plumage begin to appear about this time. By the month 

 of November the young are generally not to be distinguished 

 from the adults. 



Nestling. In this and all the other species of Lagopus, the 

 nestling is covered with fluffy yellow down, with rich brown 

 pattern on the upper-parts. 



Range. Confined to the British Islands. 



Habits. " This species inhabits the open moors covered with 

 heath and ling from sea-level, but is not found above the limits 

 where these plants grow, its place being taken on the mountain 

 tops of many parts of Scotland by the Ptarmigan. Unlike the 

 Black Game, the Red Grouse is strictly monogamous, each 

 male pairing with one female only, and assisting her to rear the 

 young. The nesting season is, roughly speaking, in April and 

 May, but varies according to locality and season, eggs being 

 sometimes found much earlier and as late as June, though the 

 latter are probably second sittings, the first having been 

 destroyed. The female in her black and buff summer garb is 

 practically invisible when sitting on her nest, her colours har- 

 monising perfectly with her surroundings." 



As the young Grouse become strong on the wing and the 

 season advances, the various coveys, especially if the weather is 

 wet and stormy soon unite their forces and go about in large 



