170 THE RED GROUSE PTARMIGAN. 



and boldly defend the nest or young from the ordi- 

 nary aggressors. One of the most dangerous for the 

 eggs is the common carrion crow or corby, but this 

 is often attacked in return and successfully beaten off. 

 In confinement they very easily tame and become fa- 

 miliar, and have even bred, though I believe the 

 young, after being hatched, have very rarely been 

 reared. 



The adult plumage of the grouse which have at- 

 tained an age beyond a year or two, is a deep rich 

 sienna brown, the belly almost entirely black. Many 

 specimens are much marked with white on the under 

 parts, and some to a greater degree than others ; 

 and it is a usual thing to remark of these birds, 

 where the colours are so richly contrasted, u What a 

 fine old bird he is." The reverse, however, is the 

 truth, for though white is so often the attribute of 

 age, it is in this case most prevalent upon the 

 young males. The females are of a paler tint, and 

 have the markings larger. During the breeding sea- 

 son, the feathers of both become much more cut in- 

 to, as it were, with yellow, and their tips are pale 

 yellowish white. The grouse varies occasionally to 

 different shades of cream colour, but we are not aware 

 of any specimens being perfectly white. 



Another grouse, very nearly resembling the moor- 

 fowl of Britain, is the Willow Grouse, Lagopus salt- 

 celiy inhabiting the arctic parts of North America, and 

 extending from thence to the north of Europe. The 

 plumage of the summer is extremely similar to the red 

 grouse, but that of the winter is entirely white. The 



