708 The Zoologist — April, 1867. 



correct in considering them to be distinct species. If the plumage of the willow grouse 

 had been at any period of the year the same as that of our red grouse there would have 

 been some grounds for supposing them to be identical; but this is not the case. The 

 changes of plumage of the willow grouse are the same as those of the common ptar- 

 migan, the wings and lower pans of the body being pure white at all seasons. The 

 periodical changes of the plumage of the red grouse are very slight, but the colour, I 

 believe, is generally darker in winter than it is in summer, when it assumes rather more 

 of an orange tint. The common ptarmigan undergoes the tame changes of plumage 

 in this couutry as it docs in Norway and Sweden, and it is very remarkable that no 

 such change should eier lake place in the plumage of our red grouse if it is identical 

 with the willow grouse. Temminck states that the red grouse has only sixteen feathers 

 in the tail, while the willow grouse and common ptarmigan invariably have eighteen, 

 but I cannot verily this assertion, as I have not a skin of either of the species now in 

 my possession. Mr. Cooke, of Oxford Street, told me a short time since that he pos- 

 sessed authentic eggs of the willow grouse, and they were certainly different from any 

 of the varieties of those of the red grouse. — Henry Doubteday ; Epping, February 6, 

 1867. 



Bitterns near Dorchester. — Although the bittern is now only a rare visitor with us, 

 several have this winter been obtained in the neighbourhood. I saw lately in the 

 hands of a bin's uffer two male birds, in very fine plumage, both shot at the beginning 

 of the year, and another was taken alive at West Stafford, about two miles from here, 

 during the third week in January. This bird was found by some wild-fowl shooters 

 in a wilhy bed, standing over a jack, which it had killed, but not commenced eating: 

 when it was flushed the jack was left behind, and a trap was set by the fiM), in expecta- 

 tion of the bittern's return, which proved to be the case, and the bird was taken un- 

 injured, although not secured without some difficulty. Having been carefully fed for 

 6ome days on fish, &c.,it seemed likely to do well in confinement, and it has I believe 

 been seut to the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park. — James Shorl<>,jun.; High East 

 Street, Dorchester, March 1 1, 1807. 



Redshank in Breeding Plumage in January. — Among several redshanks received, 

 in the flesh, from the neighbourhood of Southend, during the severe weather in January 

 last, I noticed one that, to all appearance, was in complete summer plumage. On com- 

 paring it with several skins and stuffed specimens in my collection, all iu summer dress, 

 I found that it scarcely differed from them in plumage, the only variation being that 

 the spots on the fore part of the neck and breast were a little less conspicuous in the 

 bird killed in January than in the others. In all other respects the plumage of the 

 birds was identical. Is not this unusual P I have killed redshanks at all periods of 

 the year, but have never before observed anything of the kind, and should much like 

 to know if any of the readers of the 'Zoologist' have done so. I am aware that 

 ovarian disease is considered a cause of variations from normal plumage. In the 

 present instance the bird was an adult female, as proved by dissection, but the ovary- 

 was to all appearance perfectly healthy. — W. H. Power; City of London Hospital, 

 Victoria Pink, February 38, 18t>7. 



Canada Goose at Coombe Bissetl. — On Monday, the 21st of January, a fine speci- 

 men of the Canada or cravat goose (Anser canadensis) was shot in a meadow at Coombe 

 Bissett, Wiltshire, by Mr. Crosse, of the same place: it came into my possession the 

 following day, ami on dissection proved to be a male bird, weight twelve pounds; wing 



