112 MR. T. E. BUCKLEY ON THE [Jao. 17, 



2. On the Variability of Plumage exhibited by the Red 

 Grouse {Layopus scoticus). By T. E. Buckley, B.A., 

 F.Z.S. 



[Received December 27, 1881.] 



At the commencement of this paper I wish to remark that I do 

 not propose to speak of what are commonly termed varieties, such 

 as albinos, melanism s, &c., but of such variations in plumage as I 

 think may be met with by any one in a season's grouse-shooting, 

 only specifying that they should be obtained late enough in the 

 season for the birds to have attained the highest perfection of 

 plumage, which would be by November. 



Although many authors have remarked on the variations of the 

 plumage of the Red Grouse, it seems to have been generally supposed 

 by them that these variations had reference to the locality or district 

 inhabited by the birds. Thus Yarrell writes (Br. B. ed.3,ii".p. 368):— 

 " The Red Grouse of N. 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."' Mr. Gray writes (B. West of Scotland, p. 234), in reference 

 to examples from the Hebrides, that " they may be said to be smaller 

 and lighter in colour than those from moors on the mainland, 

 especially the mountain-ranges of the north-east of Scotland, which 

 invariably yield, in good seasons, the largest and most beautifully 

 marked Grouse, In many districts the native Grouse partake of the 

 coloration of the ground in their markings : thus the finest and 

 darkest birds are those frequenting rich heathy tracts ; while on 

 broken ground of a rocky character, such as may be seen in the south 

 of Wigtonshire, the Grouse are either more or less mottled, or are 

 altogether lighter in colour, and less in weight." The same gentleman 

 adds in a note, on the information of Mr. Elwes, "that in the district 

 of Gareloch, west of Ross-shire, Grouse vary very much in the breast- 

 markings." Mr. Colquhoun, on the same subject writes (' The Moor 

 and the Loch,' 3 ed. p. 11 2): — "ThePerthshire Grouse are much smaller 

 and darker in colour than those of Argyllshire. The West High- 

 lander is a beautiful rich red and very large. ... In the low coru- 

 districts, such as Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and the Border counties, 

 the Grouse are a light brown, borrowing a tint from the stubbles on 

 which they delight to feed. . . . All these birds are so light in 

 the colour as more nearly to resemble Partridges." Mr. Dresser 

 (B. of Europe, vii. p. 166), after describing some specimens, makes 

 this observation: — " The Grouse differ somewhat in colour according 

 to locality. Judging from the series I have before me, I consider that 

 those from Scotland are somewhat the larger, and considerably darker 

 in colour. Those from the north of England are more rufous ; and 

 the Irish bird is considerably the lightest, and has a yellowish red 

 tinge in the plumage ; the feathers on the legs are also darker and 



