230 MR. R. COLLETT ON HYBRID GROUSE. (Apr. 20, 
feathers are brownish black, finely speckled with grey. A whitish 
stripe passes through the eye, under this a brown one. The upper 
tail-coverts irregularly barred with black, greyish brown, and yellowish 
brown, with broad white edges. The under tail-coverts white, 
sometimes a few feathers banded with rusty. The tail-feathers are 
black, with the outer web speckled brownish grey or whitish, and 
white-tipped ; the centre pair entirely mottled. The front of the 
tarsus as in the male. 
Thus in winter plumage there exists this difference between 
the sexes, that those parts which in the male are black with white 
edgings to the feathers, are more or less mottled brown in the female, 
and instead of the male’s black spot on the breast the female has the 
breast barred with yellowish brown. Of the three females from 
Sweden which at present,are preserved in the Upsala Museum, two 
(Jemtland, Feb. 1886 ; Angermanland, Jan. 1861) are normal, and 
on the whole similar to the before-mentioned Norwegian specimens. 
The last is, however, rather light-coloured: thus the barred feathers 
on the flanks are quite covered with white ones, so that these 
portions seem to be unspotted; the throat likewise is snowy white. 
Both are young individuals; this is seen by their slender and unworn 
beaks. 
The third female (Jemtland, January 1885) was somewhat 
different, and very dark in colour, without any part of its abdomen 
being entirely white. This was an old bird, the beak coarse and 
well-worn on the edges and point. The ovary was (according to 
Dr. Kolthoff) plainly visible. On the rump several well-worn 
autumnal feathers with brown cross lines remained amongst the 
white winter feathers. Its essential peculiarities were as follows :— 
On the upper parts, wings, and tail normal, though intermingled 
with a somewhat stronger reddish-brown colour. The whole of 
the lower half from the beak to the rump evenly furnished with 
broad brown and black cross bands; a few feathers quite white, 
others had white edges. In other respects like the former ones. 
Size normal. 
Although this specimen was decidedly more darkly coloured under- 
neath than the others, its general characteristics in markings and 
shape were otherwise quite in conformity with them. 
Summer Plumage. 
The period in the spring at which the individuals begin to change 
their winter plumage is unknown. All the specimens which i have 
examined were captured in the months October to February ; and on 
a specimen in the Museum at Bergen, shot in Voss (Bergen Stift) 
about the Ist March 1868, there is yet no trace of spring plumage 
visible. 
Whilst the spring plumage of the Rype-Orre is as yet unknown, 
there exists one account of a specimen in its summer garb. In 
1823 Mr. Sommerfelt, jun.', in ‘ Magazin for Naturvidenskaberne,’ 
1 A son of the Mr, Sommerfelt who is mentioned above (p. 225) as haying 
for the first time brought to notice its hybrid character. 
