GEOUSE SHOOTING. 35 



white tips, and interlined with yellow. Also, the 

 bare skin above the eyes, which is a prevalent feature 

 of the family of the Tetraonidce-, increases in size and 

 depth of colour. It is supposed that diversity of pasture 

 produces diversity of plumage in the red grouse. Sir 

 William Jardine had a grouse, shot on the moors of 

 Galloway, whose ground colour was yellowish white, 

 and whose dark markings were reddish brown, much 

 lighter than the ordinary hue, while the quills were 

 dirty white. Mr. Selby speaks of a cream-coloured 

 or pale grey variety on the Blanchland moors of 

 Durham, that seems to have bred and continued the 

 diversity from year to year. The red grouse is a bird 

 easily tamed; we have known them familiar with 

 man. They even lay when in confinement. Jardine 

 mentions a brood hatched under a ki tchen- dresser ; 

 and many have been bred in aviaries. The young 

 thus hatched are seldom reared to maturity ; a failure 

 no doubt produced by the need of some food not 

 known, or unattainable in their domesticated condition. 



Lag opus. Generic characters : bill very short, 

 clothed at the base with feathers, which conceal the 

 nostrils ; wings short, somewhat rounded, with the 

 third and fourth quills longest ; tail short, and nearly 

 square at extremity ; tarsi and toes covered with hair- 

 like feathers, sometimes over the claws, which are long, 

 straight, and rather flattened. Types : L. Scoticus, &c., 

 Europe ; north parts of North America ; Arctic circle. 



Note. Monogamous ; gregarious in winter; habits 

 entirely terrestrial. 



