RED GROUSE. 355 



families uniting to form packs, are then very difficult to get 

 shots at. 



Among the quantities of Red Grouse received in London, 

 considerable differences in the colour of the plumage are 

 obvious, and a difference also in weight is considered to be 

 peculiar to the birds of particular districts. 



The Red Grouse of North Wales are said to be large in 

 size, and light in colour : those of the Western Highlands 

 are also light in colour, and are said to be earlier breeders 

 than those of the eastern parts of Scotland, which are, 

 however, of large size, and dark in colour. I have been 

 favoured with the weight of four male and two female Red 

 Grouse from Morayshire, not selected because considered 

 as particularly large, but it happens to be a practice with 

 the keeper. The four males weighed respectively 24f 

 ounces, 4f ounces, 24-J- ounces, and 24 ounces, thus 

 averaging 24 \ ounces. Of the two females, one weighed 

 24i ounces, the other 23 ounces ; and in this locality the 

 birds are very dark in colour. 



In further reference to colour, Mr. Selby, residing in 

 Northumberland, observes, that " varieties of a cream co- 

 lour, or with different degrees of white, are often met with; 

 and there has for many years existed on the moors of 

 Blanchland, in the county of Durham, a cream-coloured, or 

 light grey variety, spotted more or less with dark brown 

 and black ; but, from the anxiety of sportsmen to procure 

 specimens, these birds have not been allowed to increase, as 

 they otherwise, in all probability, would have done." 



The Red Grouse of Yorkshire are said to be the smallest 

 in size ; and this difference is most observable when the 

 birds are picked and trussed for roasting ; yet Daniel, in 

 his Rural Sports, records one that was killed near Rich- 

 mond in Yorkshire, which weighed twenty-five ounces ; 



AA2 



