On Mountain and Loch. 79 



the female the upper parts are darker, practically 

 black, mottled with gray and rufous, and the under 

 parts are chestnut - buff barred with dark - brown. 

 This plumage prevails during June and July, although 

 subject to some change by sun and abrasion, whilst 

 towards the end of the latter month signs of the 

 autumn livery begin to be apparent In this dress 

 again the sexes are similar, as we might naturally 

 expect to be the case, now that the breeding season 

 is over, and both male and female are exposed to 

 the same conditions of life. The upper parts, the 

 breast and flanks, are gray, vermiculated with black. 

 By the end of August this autumn dress is fully 

 attained. It is worn for nearly a couple of months, 

 subject of course to some change from abrasion and 

 sun. Then comes the transition to the white winter 

 plumage, which in most cases becomes complete by 

 the middle of November contemporaneously with 

 the snow that lies upon the mountains for the next 

 three months or more. This beautiful arrangement 

 of nature becomes even more impressive by certain 

 comparisons. For instance, the Red Grouse, living 

 as it does amongst the ling and heath, and in a 

 region where snow seldom covers the ground for 

 many days at a time, retains a brown dress through- 

 out the year; in this species also the flight feathers 

 are constantly brown in hue, just as those of the 

 Ptarmigan are white. But the nearest ally of the 



