80 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



Red Grouse, the Willow Grouse (the Lagopus albus 

 of ornithologists), inhabiting the tundras of the 

 arctic regions right round the world, assumes a pure 

 white plumage for the winter (readily distinguished, 

 by the way, from the Ptarmigan by the absence of 

 the black patch before the eye), and in this case 

 again the flight feathers are constantly white a 

 dress that is admirably protective amidst the winter 

 snows of its northern home. Here, then, we have 

 two birds distantly related, like the Ptarmigan and 

 the Willow Grouse, donning white plumage in winter 

 for protection, whilst the Red Grouse, so closely 

 allied to the Willow Grouse, and resembling it in 

 many details of its economy, remains practically the 

 same in appearance summer and winter alike. The 

 retention of the white quills is a very interesting 

 fact. These Grouse moult their flight feathers but 

 once in the year, in autumn; and probably the reason 

 they are constantly white is because this tint is no 

 disadvantage to the species, being always concealed 

 except during flight. As we know, these birds take 

 wing most reluctantly, always endeavouring to elude 

 observation by crouching close to the ground. 

 Similarly, the central tail-feathers of the Willow 

 Grouse and Ptarmigan are the only ones that change 

 in colour with the seasons varying from white in 

 winter to brown marked with gray and buff in 

 summer, and gray mottled with black in autumn 



